
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Beach - The Channel surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, W swell with 12,401 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cobden Beach - The Channel this week:
The surf forecast for Cobden Beach - The Channel over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Beach - The Channel in the next 16 days are 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Beach - The Channel over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s run through what’s coming up for the next stretch.
The surf fires up on Tuesday, 28 July, with a clean little wave. Nothing huge, but it’s a solid start. Cobden Beach - The Channel is the only spot in play. The morning brings a 4ft W swell, 11 seconds, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the ESE. The water’s at 54°, which is about average for the time of year. The combined energy is moderate (328). The afternoon glass off is a beauty: clear skies, 4ft, glassy as a mirror. It’s small, but it’s clean.
Wednesday, 29 July, is the first real highlight. The morning has a 3ft WSW swell, but the period jumps to 14 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (608). With a light cross-off breeze, it’s clean and lined up. The afternoon is the winner: 5ft WSW at 14 seconds, glassy, and energy at 745. It’s a classic winter’s day, small but punchy, and the best on offer this week.
Thursday, 30 July, starts to lose it. Morning is cross-shore and choppy, with a 4ft W swell, 13 seconds, but the wind is a cross-breeze and the combined energy is moderate (661). The afternoon turns ugly: 8ft NW, short period (8 seconds), and a strong 19 mph cross-onshore wind. That’s lumpy, messy, and the energy is over 1200. For paddle surfing, it’s a write-off. If you’ve got a kite, this setup might be more fun.
Friday, 31 July, is a full-on blowout. 12ft and 18ft swells, high winds, and onshore conditions. The energy is massive (2322 and 12190). This is expert-only at best, and honestly, it’s more of a spectacle than a session. A beach break with this much juice and wind is going to be a washing machine. Not for beginners.
Saturday, 1 August, starts with an 8ft W swell, 12 seconds, and clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is 2041. The comment says it’s too big for this break, so respect that. The afternoon is a gem: 6ft W, 10 seconds, glassy, and energy at 712. It’s clean, fun, and the best of the weekend.
Sunday, 2 August, is small but sweet. Morning has 4ft W, 8 seconds, and clean conditions. The afternoon is tiny with a 1ft WSW swell, but the period is a massive 22 seconds – that’s very long period groundswell. Combined energy is 346. It’ll be glassy and clean, but you’ll be waiting for sets. Good for a longboard or a quiet paddle.
Monday, 3 August, brings a 4ft WSW swell, 18 seconds, and moderate energy (943). The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze. The afternoon gets a bit wind-affected with cross-on wind, but it’s still rideable. The long period means this is better at a point or reef than a beach break – it’ll break too straight for the beach.
Tuesday, 4 August, is another standout. The morning has 4ft WSW, 15 seconds, and clean offshore wind. The afternoon is the best of the whole run: 6ft WSW, 14 seconds, glassy, and energy at 1557. This is excellent for experienced surfers – proper power, clean lines, and a nice size.
Wednesday, 5 August, morning is small and clean at 3ft, 13 seconds. The afternoon jumps to 10ft WSW, 8 seconds, and clean wind, but the comment says it’s too big for the break.
Thursday, 6 August, rounds out with clean 4ft and 4ft W swells, good periods, and glassy conditions.
The gap from Friday, 31 July, to Saturday, 1 August afternoon, is a full day of messy, oversized surf. After that, there’s a solid run of clean but smaller waves. The week of 4 August onwards has a few more promising days, especially Tuesday afternoon and the very long period glassy afternoon on 11 August.
The standout days are Wednesday, 29 July afternoon, and Tuesday, 4 August afternoon. Both have clean, glassy conditions, solid period, and moderate energy. The swell direction (WSW) matches the optimum. If you can only pick one, 4 August afternoon is the best: 6ft, 14 seconds, glassy, and energy at 1557. It’s a surfer’s day.
Crowds are rare at Cobden Beach - The Channel, so you’ll have plenty of room.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun afternoon, min 3°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Fri morning, light winds from the SSE by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | W 14 | W 14 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 22 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
323 | 319 | 296 | 425 | 743 | 627 | 513 | 822 | 1382 | 2322 | 12190 | 7020 | 2041 | 703 | 332 | 200 | 156 | 627 | 790 | 1189 | 547 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:02AM3.04m | 10:21PM3.12m | 10:41AM3.13m | 10:56PM3.21m | 11:16AM3.19m | 11:30PM3.27m | 11:50AM3.21m | 00:03AM3.30m | 12:24PM3.21m | 00:37AM3.29m | 12:59PM3.18m | 1:12AM3.25m | 1:35PM3.12m | 1:51AM3.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:15PM1.15m | 4:31AM1.10m | 4:51PM1.04m | 5:06AM0.99m | 5:24PM0.94m | 5:41AM0.90m | 5:57PM0.87m | 6:15AM0.83m | 6:30PM0.83m | 6:50AM0.79m | 7:05PM0.82m | 7:27AM0.79m | 7:42PM0.85m | ||||||||
7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 13 |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | — | — | W 14 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | W 8 |
323 | 319 | 296 | 425 | 743 | 627 | 513 | 304 | 282 | — | — | 7020 | 2041 | 703 | 332 | 200 | 124 | 627 | 790 | 1189 | 397 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | W 9 | — | W 10 | — | WSW 18 | W 17 | W 20 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | W 22 | W 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 11 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | — | WSW 16 |
5 | 6 | — | 183 | — | 31 | 140 | 122 | 311 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 8 | 71 | 66 | 94 | 153 | — | 547 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 22 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 156 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NW 8 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | W 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 8 | 822 | 1382 | 2322 | 12190 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 190 | 156 | 173 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cobden Beach - The Channel provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cobden Beach - The Channel can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cobden Beach - The Channel 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 (Cobden Beach - The Channel) 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 Cobden Beach - The Channel 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.
Cobden Beach is 173 km (107 miles) from the city of Christchurch. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Christchurch. Christchurch has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










