Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 25 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.3° C
0.3° 

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


Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with 6,600 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cobden Breakwater this week:

The surf forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Sat 25th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 14s
Best Surf12PM (Sat 25th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 14s
Most Powerful12PM (Sat 25th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up.

This forecast starts with a bit of a lull, so don't rush out just yet. The first real action kicks off on Saturday the 25th of July, but it's a bit of a mixed bag. The standout window is that Saturday afternoon at Cobden Breakwater. The swell is a solid 13 ft from the west, and the wind goes glassy offshore from the ENE. That’s a recipe for some absolute bombs, clean and powerful. The combined wave energy is seriously pumping at 6274 – that’s a lot of grunt. But fair warning, at that size it’s an expert-only affair. Beginners stay well clear.

Sunday the 26th still has good size, with 7 ft from the west on the morning, and the wind is light cross-off from the ESE, so the surface will be clean. The energy is still strong at 1887. It’s a step down in size from Saturday, making it more manageable for experienced surfers, but still not one for the learners. The afternoon drops to 6 ft, but the wind swings onshore, so the morning is the pick.

From Monday the 27th through to Wednesday the 29th, the swell drops into the 3 ft to 5 ft range. The wind stays light and favorable, off or cross-off, with a glassy moment on Tuesday afternoon. The energy is low to moderate (225–687). It’s clean, small-wave fun, but nothing to get overly excited about.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Thursday the 30th of July through to the end of the month, the wind gets messy. Thursday sees a gusty 19 mph cross-off, and Friday has onshore wind and rain. The swell picks up again to 7 ft, but with poor conditions, it’s not worth paddling out. The breakwater setup will be choppy and blown out.

The first week of August offers one clear standout. Sunday the 2nd of August morning is a cracker for the experienced crew: 7 ft from the west, a very long 15-second period groundswell, light cross-off wind, and strong wave energy at 1733. That’s clean, lined-up, and powerful – best suited to the point or reef setup here. Monday the 3rd is similar with 8 ft from the west, 18-second period, and clean conditions, but that’s getting serious size, expert-only.

The second week of the forecast, from the 5th of August onward, the swell fades significantly. By the 8th and 9th we’re down to ankle-slappers of 1.0–2 ft, weak energy in the double digits, and light winds. Not worth a trip.

One thing to note: the water temperature is sitting at 54°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Best bet overall: Saturday afternoon on the 25th of July for those who can handle big, clean, offshore bombs, or Sunday morning on the 2nd of August if you want slightly smaller but still powerful, clean groundswell.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the NNE by Thu afternoon).

Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
!
5
4
2
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
0
2
1
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
W
16
4
W
14
3
W
14
2.2
W
14
1.8
W
13
1.8
W
13
1.8
W
12
1.6
W
12
1.3
W
11
1.1
W
11
0.9
WSW
11
1
W
10
0.8
WSW
10
0.9
WSW
14
1.6
W
13
1.7
WNW
9
2.1
WNW
9
3.5
W
13
2.1
W
11
1.6
W
8
2.4
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4808
6274
3423
1887
1127
1057
900
687
394
277
187
202
131
361
875
449
708
3775
1029
347
992
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
5
ENE
10
E
10
ESE
10
SW
10
ESE
10
ESE
5
SW
10
E
10
E
5
NW
5
E
5
ENE
10
NNE
10
ENE
15
NNE
30
NNE
20
W
10
WSW
10
SW
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
off
glassy
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
on
on
on
cross-off
High Tide
8:07PM2.77m
8:32AM2.83m
8:58PM2.89m
9:20AM2.94m
9:42PM3.01m
10:02AM3.04m
10:21PM3.12m
10:41AM3.13m
10:56PM3.21m
11:16AM3.19m
11:30PM3.27m
11:50AM3.21m
00:03AM3.30m
Low Tide
1:53PM1.45m
2:22AM1.40m
2:49PM1.37m
3:11AM1.31m
3:35PM1.26m
3:53AM1.21m
4:15PM1.15m
4:31AM1.10m
4:51PM1.04m
5:06AM0.99m
5:24PM0.94m
5:41AM0.90m
5:57PM0.87m
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:50
7:48
7:48
7:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:36
 mm
2
1
3
2
4
7
5
1
Temp °C
9
8
7
8
9
6
9
10
7
9
10
8
9
10
10
11
12
11
10
11
8
Feels °C
5
6
4
5
5
3
7
7
4
6
8
6
7
8
7
6
7
7
7
8
5
  • 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 Cobden Breakwater Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Cobden Breakwater provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cobden Breakwater can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cobden Breakwater 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 Breakwater) 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 Breakwater 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 Breakwater is 172 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.

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