Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.8° C
0.1° 

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 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, W swell with 12,401 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period with WSW 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 11s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Mon 20th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Best Surf 6AM (Sat 25th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 25th Jul)18ft (5.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way at Cobden Breakwater over the next couple of weeks. This spot is a breakwater setup, so it's a bit of a different animal than your standard beach break, and it's gonna be a wild ride of a forecast.

The water is sitting at 55°F right now, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary there.

We kick things off on Monday the 20th with some proper surf. The morning has a clean 5ft swell from the WSW, with a period of 14 seconds, giving the water some real grunt (754). That cross-off wind from the ESE is going to keep the faces tidy. Then Monday afternoon turns glassy as the wind swings to the north, with the swell dropping slightly to 4ft but still holding that nice 13-second period (627). This is a solid start to the week, pretty clean and workable.

Tuesday the 21st is a bit smaller but still very much worth a paddle. The morning is clean with a 3ft W swell (375), and Tuesday afternoon goes glassy, dropping to 3ft but still holding that 12-second period (305). It’s not pumping, but it will be fun and uncrowded.

Wednesday the 22nd is a tricky one. The morning has a 3ft swell but the period is a jumbled 6 seconds, so it’s gonna be a bit weak and messy (204). The afternoon is a much better story: glassy conditions with a 4ft W swell, and the period jumps back up to 10 seconds (390), so it’ll have a bit more shape.

Thursday the 23rd is a standout. The morning is clean with a 5ft W swell, period 13 seconds (683) and nice offshore winds from the NE. The afternoon holds up with a similar 5ft W swell (643). This is the best bet of the first week, no question.

Now, Friday the 24th is where it gets a bit gnarly. The morning swell jumps to 7ft from the NNW with a short, weak 8-second period (1024), and it’s cross-on, so it’ll be a bumpy mess. The afternoon is worse: a strong 5ft WSW swell at 15 seconds (1875), but cross-on howling at 16 mph from the WNW. Honestly, this looks more like a kite-surfing day than a surfing day.

Saturday the 25th, the swell goes into overdrive. Morning offers a massive 12ft W swell at 16 seconds (6510), but it’s simply too big for this break. Afternoon is even crazier at 16ft (5324). This is expert-only territory, and with the sheer size, it’s likely to be breaking too straight for a breakwater unless you know exactly what you’re doing.

Sunday the 26th is a total washout. We’re looking at 25-31 mph onshore winds with 15ft and 12ft waves. Don’t even think about it.

After that stormy spell, we get a nice reset. Monday the 27th is clean and excellent for experienced surfers with a 7ft W swell, 12-second period (1095), and cross-off ESE wind. The afternoon is a bit onshore, but the morning is a ripper.

Tuesday the 28th is a big day. The morning has a 10ft W swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds (1049), so it will be a bit fat and walled up. The afternoon goes glassy with a massive 12ft W swell at 11 seconds (2434), but it’s again too big for most.

Wednesday the 29th is the clear standout of the second week. The morning is glassy with a 8ft W swell at a very long 14 seconds (2747). The afternoon is clean with a 6ft WSW swell, also at 14 seconds (1929). This is a proper groundswell window, and the breakwater setup should handle that long period better than a beach. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is the one.

The rest of the run into early August is a mix of big, clean swells that are often too big for the break. Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st have 16ft+ swells with favorable winds, but it’s just too much wave. The first few days of August are similar, with 12ft to 13ft waves, but the morning of Sunday the 2nd and Tuesday the 4th offer some clean, manageable 8ft and 10ft swells with good cross-off winds, ideal for experts.

The bottom line: Thursday the 23rd is your best bet in the first week for clean, solid fun. Wednesday the 29th is the long-range gem for the experienced crew. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 73mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Sat morning). Mainly strong winds.

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
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
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
3
3
3
2
2
0
0
!
!
0
0
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)
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
W
13
1
W
13
0.9
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
10
1.2
W
10
1.4
WSW
13
1.4
W
13
1.4
W
13
1.5
W
8
2.1
NNW
8
1.6
WSW
15
3.5
W
10
3.5
W
16
5
W
10
5.5
W
14
4.5
W
14
3.5
W
13
2.5
W
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
754
627
573
334
244
142
81
267
690
683
643
269
558
1007
2210
6510
5324
12229
6964
4073
2201
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
5
N
10
ESE
5
ESE
5
W
5
SE
5
SE
5
NNW
10
ENE
10
NE
10
NNE
20
NNE
10
NW
25
WNW
40
WSW
10
E
10
NNW
40
WSW
40
WSW
50
WSW
5
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
off
cross
on
on
on
cross
High Tide
3:10PM2.95m
3:36AM2.95m
4:01PM2.81m
4:32AM2.80m
4:57PM2.70m
5:33AM2.71m
6:01PM2.66m
6:36AM2.69m
7:06PM2.69m
7:37AM2.74m
8:07PM2.77m
8:32AM2.83m
8:58PM2.89m
Low Tide
9:02AM0.94m
9:20PM1.06m
9:50AM1.12m
10:13PM1.23m
10:43AM1.29m
11:14PM1.37m
11:43AM1.41m
00:20AM1.44m
12:49PM1.46m
1:25AM1.45m
1:53PM1.45m
2:22AM1.40m
2:49PM1.37m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
light rain
thunderstorm
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:56
7:56
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:52
7:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
 mm
1
3
1
2
22
11
11
5
3
11
7
4
4
Temp °C
11
13
10
10
11
10
11
12
10
11
12
12
11
11
9
6
8
8
8
9
6
Feels °C
8
12
8
9
10
7
10
11
8
9
9
7
9
6
-1
2
6
-2
-1
1
2
  • 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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