
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WSW swell with 1,891 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Cobden Breakwater over the coming weeks.
The good news is there’s surf nearly all the way through, though the first few days are rough. Monday the 3rd of August is a write-off with strong onshore wind and rain washing out the shape. Tuesday the 4th morning stays a bit messy with the cross-off wind, but the afternoon cleans up – light breeze, clear skies, and a 6ft swell from the west with 10-second period. That’s the first real window.
Wednesday the 5th is the early standout. The morning has a light cross-off breeze with a 3ft WSW groundswell, period of 13 seconds, and the afternoon goes glassy. The combined energy is 397 (moderate) in the morning, dropping to 249 by the afternoon. It’s not big, but those long-period waves will wrap in clean. Water temperature sits at 54°, about average for the time of year.
The next real highlight is Friday the 7th afternoon. A 8ft swell from the NW, period of 10 seconds, and an almost glassy cross-off wind. Combined energy hits 1259 (strong). This is intermediate territory – a bit much for beginners, but good for anyone with some experience. Breaks are fairly consistent here, and crowds are rare, so you should get plenty of waves.
Sunday the 9th morning is another strong option. A 6ft W groundswell with 13-second period, light offshore wind, combined energy of 1043 (strong). Conditions will be clean and lined up. The size is manageable for intermediates, and it’s just a good, honest session.
Looking into the second week, Thursday the 13th morning has some juice: 6ft from the west, 17-second period, combined energy of 2764 (very strong). That’s a powerful swell and it’s going to be solid. For experienced surfers only at that size. The cross-off wind keeps it clean. It’s a promising call but further out, so keep an eye on it.
Saturday the 15th is a classic. Both morning and afternoon are glassy, with a 5ft W swell (15-second period) in the morning and 4ft WSW in the afternoon. Combined energy is 1714 and 1434 respectively. This is the best combo of clean, manageable size, and quality groundswell. A real standout for the whole outlook.
Sunday the 16th afternoon sees the biggest swell of the run: 10ft from the west, 12-second period, with a cross-off breeze and combined energy of 2989 (very strong). Experts only here – this is raw and powerful.
After that, things taper off. Monday the 17th morning is messy, but the afternoon goes dead glassy with a small 3ft WSW swell wrapping in. Tuesday the 18th gets blown out by onshore wind.
Overall, the standout days are Wednesday 5th afternoon for a glassy, long-period session, and Saturday 15th for the combination of clean conditions and solid groundswell. If you’re experienced, Thursday 13th morning and Sunday 16th afternoon are worth marking in the calendar, but check closer to the date.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon afternoon, min 3°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 5°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 18 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 13 | W 13 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
929 | 939 | 1794 | 1178 | 627 | 240 | 350 | 198 | 104 | 89 | 49 | 65 | 437 | 1235 | 604 | 307 | 159 | 289 | 976 | 865 | 346 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:35PM3.12m | 1:51AM3.17m | 2:15PM3.03m | 2:34AM3.07m | 3:01PM2.93m | 3:26AM2.95m | 3:58PM2.83m | 4:32AM2.86m | 5:08PM2.77m | 5:48AM2.82m | 6:28PM2.79m | 7:05AM2.87m | 7:43PM2.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:42PM0.85m | 8:08AM0.83m | 8:24PM0.92m | 8:52AM0.91m | 9:13PM1.01m | 9:45AM1.02m | 10:14PM1.10m | 10:49AM1.11m | 11:28PM1.15m | 12:06PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.10m | 1:25PM1.10m | 2:02AM0.96m | ||||||||
7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | |
— | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 13 | W 13 | W 9 |
929 | 737 | — | 1178 | 627 | 240 | 350 | 198 | 104 | 89 | 49 | 65 | 437 | 1235 | 604 | 307 | 159 | 289 | 976 | 865 | 276 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 16 | WSW 16 | W 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 7 | WNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | WSW 16 |
— | — | — | 375 | 273 | 178 | 47 | 51 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 27 | 18 | 17 | 31 | 39 | 143 | 93 | 43 | 29 | 346 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 20 | W 18 | — | — | W 8 | W 21 | W 21 | W 19 | — | W 20 | W 18 | WSW 15 | W 14 | WSW 15 | WNW 9 | WSW 19 | WSW 13 |
— | — | — | — | 30 | 56 | — | — | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7 | — | 7 | 25 | 76 | 150 | 284 | 67 | 119 | 129 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | — | SE 3 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | — | — | — |
383 | 939 | 1794 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 153 | 180 | 238 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











