Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.2° C
1.8° 

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 26 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 8s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 23ft (7.0m), 14s period, S swell with 18,331 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s 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 (Jul 29) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 7.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Wed 29th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 13s
Best Surf12PM (Sat 1st Aug)13ft (4.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sun 2nd Aug)23ft (7.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down in feet and miles. This is Blacks Reef, and honestly, the next 16 days are a mixed bag. We’ve got some real potential, but also some proper ugly spells you’ll want to dodge.

First up, the start is pretty rough. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are messy – onshore and choppy with nothing to get excited about. Wave energy is high but it’s blown out trash.

Come Wednesday the 29th, things flip. It’s a standout. The morning will see around 6ft, coming from the southeast, with a clean cross-off breeze and a solid 13-second period. Wave energy is strong at 1189. This is proper surf. The afternoon isn’t as good but still clean.

Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st drop off in size, with waist-to-chest high leftovers, still clean but not much push. Good for a grovel, nothing more.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 1st of August – the morning looks small with a weird SSW swell, but the afternoon is a monster. We’re looking at 15ft from the south, but the catch is this swell is too big for Blacks Reef. The combined energy is massive at 3785, but this isn’t a spot built for that kind of size. If you’re an expert and know the ledge, it could be on, but don’t send the groms.

Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd are a total write-off – stormy, massive, and dangerous, with howling southerly winds. Combined energy hits 11484 on Sunday afternoon. Stay out of the water. Tuesday the 4th is still too big, 10ft and onshore.

By Wednesday the 5th, things settle a bit. Still solid, chest to head high, but the wind is light and cross-onshore. Not perfect, but getting there. Wave energy is still strong.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th drop right away, tiny and weak. But Saturday the 8th is nothing special.

Then the real standout appears – Sunday the 9th of August. Morning glass, 4-5ft south swell at 14 seconds, combined energy 1454. Light offshore or even glassy – this is going to be clean, lined-up, and beautiful. Afternoon picks up to 8ft from the east, shorter period, still clean. This is your best session of the whole run, especially the morning.

Monday the 10th continues the run with 10ft at 9 seconds, glassy and clean, but this is getting big for the reef. Best left to experienced crew. Tuesday the 11th pushes even bigger and could be on the edge of what Blacks Reef can handle cleanly.

Water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

Overall, if you pick your days, there’s some epic windows here. Wednesday the 29th and Sunday the 9th are the two to circle. The rest is either too small or too angry.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon morning, light winds from the W by Tue night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
0
3
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
ESE
13
1.4
ESE
13
2.5
S
9
2.3
S
10
2.5
SE
13
2.4
SE
13
2.1
SE
13
1.9
SE
13
1.8
SE
12
1.7
ESE
12
1.4
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
11
1.1
ESE
11
1
ESE
11
0.9
ESE
11
0.7
ESE
12
0.9
SSW
14
4.5
S
9
5
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
458
630
980
1005
2278
1952
1417
1149
918
769
509
379
291
239
197
119
331
3593
4764
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
25
WSW
30
SW
25
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
5
SSW
10
NW
15
NE
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
NW
20
N
20
NNW
15
NW
20
WNW
15
NNW
20
NE
15
S
Wind State
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
3:37AM1.48m
4:08PM1.56m
4:23AM1.45m
4:53PM1.55m
5:09AM1.43m
5:37PM1.55m
5:56AM1.42m
6:22PM1.55m
6:43AM1.44m
7:06PM1.57m
7:30AM1.47m
7:50PM1.58m
Low Tide
9:37PM0.50m
9:53AM0.48m
10:23PM0.49m
10:40AM0.45m
11:08PM0.46m
11:24AM0.41m
11:53PM0.41m
12:05PM0.37m
00:38AM0.36m
12:47PM0.33m
1:23AM0.32m
1:30PM0.31m
2:07AM0.29m
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:13
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
 mm
2
1
46
Temp °C
9
9
10
10
11
11
11
13
14
10
15
15
13
15
15
11
13
13
10
Feels °C
3
1
3
4
6
6
8
10
10
6
10
10
9
11
11
6
9
8
1
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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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