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Blacks 68.4

#2600 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · Hawke's Bay · near Gisborne

Works almost every day, no off season, a mission to reach.

Works all yearRemoteIntermediate
Surf score68.4 /100
Surfable days98% of the year
Clean days23% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell32% period 11 s+
Typical size1.6 m 5.3 ft median
Water16°C a 3/2 wetsuit

Best time to surf Blacks

The best time to surf Blacks is April, May, August. It rarely works. In May the water sits around 16°C, so pack a 4/3 with boots, and the typical wave is 1.8 m. The nearest airport is PMR (232 km) and the nearest town is Gisborne (50 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan100%18%1.4 m20°C2mm
Feb100%19%1.6 m20°C2mm
Mar100%15%1.7 m19°C3/2
Apr98%28%1.7 m17°C3/2
May98%31%1.8 m16°C4/3
Jun96%25%1.8 m14°C4/3
Jul97%26%1.8 m13°C5/4
Aug97%28%1.7 m12°C5/4
Sep97%28%1.8 m13°C5/4
Oct99%28%1.6 m14°C4/3
Nov97%7%1.2 m18°C3/2
Dec99%16%1.4 m19°C2mm

Why 68.4

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
13.4
Groundswell 12%
6.1
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
4.7
Water comfort 10%
2.3
Access 10%
4.1

The detail

Faces 190° with 53% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 72% of days. Mean peak period 10.4 s. Days over 3 m: 7%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 20%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -39.077, 177.800 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

Waikokopu bay🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 69.2Mahanga🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 65.4Big River🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 69.3The Island🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 69.3
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