Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,033 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Blacks Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and listen up. Rusty here, bringing you the straight-up story for Blacks Reef. Don't bother paddling out just yet – the next few days are a write-off, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.
We’ve got a rough start. Sunday the 2nd serves up a messy 7ft south swell, but with cross-on wind and a lot of energy in the water (1425), it’s just not clean. The water’s sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than we’re used to for this time of year. Monday is all over the place with dropping swell and crap wind, and by Tuesday the 4th through Wednesday the 5th, the ocean is going off its head. We’re talking 12ft to 16ft of pure, howling onshore slop with onshore gales and rain. The wave energy is massive (6640 on Wednesday morning), but it's a total mess. This is not for paddle surfing; you’d only have fun out there if you’re strapped into a kite. Thursday the 6th is still too rough with strong cross-onshore winds and 8ft waves.
Okay, now for the good bit. You want to lock in Friday morning, August 7th. That’s the standout of this whole outlook. The swell drops to a clean 6ft from the SSE, and the wind goes *glassy* from the WNW. The water will be clean as a whistle, and the wave energy is in a sweet moderate zone (775). It’s a reef break, so that longer period groundswell (10 seconds) will be lining up perfectly. This is for everyone who can handle a solid head-high wave. The crowds are likely here though, so get there early.
Saturday morning the 8th is also a solid backup if you miss the window. We get a 6ft south swell (13-second period, so plenty of punch) and clean cross-offshore wind from the NNW. The wave energy is moderate (1207), and it’s described as excellent for experienced surfers. Sunday the 9th morning is another sick option with a long-period 16-second SSE swell at 4ft, but it comes with light rain. It’s still clean and offers good shape for a reef setup.
After that, things get smaller and more inconsistent. Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th have some 5ft to 3ft swell with offshore wind, but it’s getting weak by then. From Thursday the 13th onwards, through the 17th, it’s dead. Flat waves, tiny energy (down to 34), and poor conditions. Don't bother.
So, bottom line: suffer through the first week, then Friday the 7th is your day. Mark it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon morning, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed night, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 11 | S 12 | S 14 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 862 | 627 | 292 | 566 | 4206 | 3392 | 7977 | 6442 | 4445 | 2749 | 1962 | 1185 | 850 | 649 | 2605 | 2542 | 1154 | 722 | 475 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 8:57AM1.55m | 9:19PM1.63m | 9:39AM1.59m | 10:04PM1.65m | 10:22AM1.63m | 10:51PM1.66m | 11:10AM1.67m | 11:41PM1.67m | 12:04PM1.70m | 00:33AM1.67m | 1:01PM1.74m | 1:29AM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:50AM0.27m | 3:02PM0.29m | 3:34AM0.27m | 3:49PM0.29m | 4:19AM0.27m | 4:38PM0.30m | 5:05AM0.28m | 5:29PM0.31m | 5:54AM0.28m | 6:23PM0.31m | 6:46AM0.27m | 7:22PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 11 | 11 | 8 | -1 | -4 | -5 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 11 | S 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | E 18 | SE 16 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 862 | 627 | 292 | 566 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 6 | 41 | 1546 | 1185 | 850 | 610 | 2605 | 2542 | 1154 | 722 | 475 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 14 | S 22 | S 13 | S 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 12 | S 18 | S 10 | SE 12 | NE 14 | E 13 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 21 | 36 | 168 | 152 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 21 | 49 | 649 | 459 | 65 | 7 | 3 | 176 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 13 | SSW 9 | NE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 18 | NE 17 | E 16 | S 13 | SE 13 | NE 14 | — | S 18 | ENE 13 |
| kJ | — | 17 | 68 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 12 | 5 | 55 | 60 | 8 | — | 6 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | — | WNW 2 | S 14 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | NW 3 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4206 | 3392 | 7977 | 6442 | 4445 | 2749 | 1962 | 567 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 130 | 324 | 169 | 255 | 162 | 75 | 41 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Blacks Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Blacks Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Blacks Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Blacks Reef surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Blacks Reef) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Blacks Reef may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Blacks Reef is 50 km (31 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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