Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
13.0°C
0.7° 

Blacks Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Blacks Reef surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with 4,481 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Wed 9th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf12AM (Sun 13th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sun 13th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. The 16-day window kicks off with a reef setup that’s exposed to the south, but the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a real mix of conditions coming through, with a couple of standouts to keep an eye on, but plenty of ordinary stuff in between.

The water temperature is sitting at 55°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a bit of an autumn nip.

First up, Blacks Reef. Monday the 7th starts with a weak 1.0ft SSW groundswell, period a very long 16 seconds, but it’s cross-offshore and only pushing 88 in combined energy. It’s surfable but very ordinary, and the afternoon turns into a write-off with onshore wind and a messy 6ft S swell. Tuesday the 8th is a nightmare – strong onshore winds, 12ft of SSE swell, and a combined energy of 1648, but it’s just poor, lumpy conditions. Not for paddling.

Wednesday the 9th shows some life. The morning is marginal with a cross-on breeze and 5ft SE swell, but the afternoon cleans up nicely. A light east breeze, 4ft SE swell, 8-second period, and 251 energy. It’s clean, small, and fun for a beginner. That’s your first real window of the outlook.

Thursday the 10th is a mixed bag. The morning has a cross-shore breeze and 3ft SE swell, but it’s not great. The afternoon turns glassy with 3ft SE swell – very clean but small. Friday the 11th is a write-off again with onshore wind and a messy 7ft S swell. The afternoon has a 2ft S groundswell with a long 18-second period, but it’s onshore. Not worth it.

The weekend of the 13th and 14th is where things get interesting. Sunday the 13th morning is a standout: a clear sky, a gentle cross-shore breeze, and a solid 8ft S groundswell. The period is a very long 16 seconds, and the combined energy is a hefty 3634. This is a proper swell, but it’s a long-period groundswell, so at a reef break it should handle it well. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so better for those with some experience. The wind is cross, so it’ll be clean. The afternoon drops off slightly with 8ft and onshore wind, but the morning is the pick.

Monday the 14th keeps the energy going with 6ft S groundswell, 14-second period, and a combined energy of 1301. The wind is a light cross-on, so it’s rideable but not perfect. The afternoon is similar.

Tuesday the 15th afternoon is another clean window: 4ft S groundswell, 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. It’s small but clean. The rest of the week into the 18th has some big pulses – 10ft on Friday the 18th – but the wind is onshore or cross-on, making it messy and choppy. That one’s more for the kite crowd than paddle surfers.

The final standout is Saturday the 19th. The morning has a 4ft SSE swell, 8-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze. The afternoon is glassy with 2ft SSW groundswell, 14-second period, and 269 energy. It’s small, but glassy and clean – perfect for a cruiser session.

The tail end of the outlook from the 20th onwards is mostly small, weak, or onshore, with a few marginal moments. Sunday the 22nd has a 3ft S groundswell with a very long 20-second period, but it’s cross-on, so not ideal.

All in all, the best of the bunch is Sunday the 13th morning – that 8ft S groundswell with clean cross-shore wind is the real highlight. The Saturday the 19th afternoon glass-off is a close second for a small, clean session.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Thu night).

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSW
16
1.8
S
7
3.5
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
9
2.4
SE
9
2
SSE
8
1.4
SE
8
1.3
SE
8
1.1
SE
8
0.9
SE
8
0.8
SE
8
0.3
S
21
2.2
S
7
0.6
S
18
0.6
S
18
0.8
SSW
7
1.2
S
17
3
S
16
2.5
S
16
2.3
S
16
1.8
S
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
51
286
1645
1648
846
527
241
196
129
82
67
78
440
248
222
64
859
4189
3634
2642
1525
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
20
S
40
SSW
35
SSW
30
SSW
15
SSW
5
WSW
10
E
15
NNW
15
WNW
5
SSE
10
W
25
S
15
SSW
10
NW
25
S
10
SSW
10
NW
15
W
15
SW
5
W
Wind State
cross-off
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross
cross-on
on
cross-off
on
on
cross-off
cross
on
cross
High Tide
1:45PM1.73m
2:15AM1.61m
2:43PM1.74m
3:14AM1.61m
3:41PM1.74m
4:12AM1.62m
4:37PM1.75m
5:08AM1.63m
5:33PM1.75m
6:03AM1.67m
6:25PM1.75m
6:56AM1.71m
7:15PM1.74m
Low Tide
8:07PM0.18m
8:26AM0.16m
9:05PM0.15m
9:27AM0.13m
10:02PM0.13m
10:25AM0.11m
10:59PM0.13m
11:19AM0.11m
11:53PM0.14m
12:11PM0.13m
00:45AM0.17m
1:02PM0.18m
1:33AM0.22m
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:15
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:54
5:55
 mm
2
8
33
2
6
4
1
Temp °C
15
12
11
10
11
10
11
13
10
15
15
12
10
11
9
11
12
10
15
15
12
Feels °C
13
9
5
3
4
5
10
11
7
12
14
9
5
7
6
6
9
5
10
11
11
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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