Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 22 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.6° C
0.0° 

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 22 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 13s period, W swell with 9,301 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period. 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 5.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Wed 22nd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 13s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 25th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 15s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 25th Jul)18ft (5.5m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Cobden Breakwater. The week starts a bit slow, but it builds into some proper groundswell, especially towards the end of the period. The water temp is sitting at about 54.7°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Wednesday the 22nd is a gentle start. The morning is cloudy with a light offshore breeze from the ENE at 3 mph, and a waist-high 3.3 ft swell from the west, with a moderate 10-second period. The afternoon cleans up to glassy conditions with a little more push at 3.6 ft. Good for a cruise, but nothing to get fired up about. The combined energy is moderate (248).

Thursday the 23rd is where it starts to get interesting. The morning sees light rain and a 4.6 ft west swell, period lifting to 13 seconds, and the wind is NE at 6 mph, cross-off, keeping it clean. The combined energy jumps to 683 – a solid step up. The afternoon turns a bit crumbly with rain showers and a cross-shore wind, but the morning is the pick.

Friday the 24th is a beast of a morning, but not for the faint of heart. We’ve got a 6.9 ft swell from the NW, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and the wind is an onshore 9 mph from the NNW, knocking it around. The combined energy is strong (1021), but the conditions are messy. Not the best for a paddle.

Saturday the 25th is a write-off. The swell is massive – 18 ft in the morning with a 13-second period and a 19 mph onshore wind from the SW. The combined energy is a massive 9301. That’s a no-go zone for paddle surfing, unless you’re looking at a kite setup. The afternoon is still huge at 13.1 ft, but the wind eases to 12 mph. Still, it’s a stay-on-the-beach day.

Sunday the 26th is the standout of the first week. The morning is clear, with a 6.9 ft west swell at 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The wind is cross-off from the SE at 6 mph, making it clean. The combined energy is strong (1744), and this is one for the experienced crew. The long period means Cobden Breakwater, being a reef/breakwater setup, should handle it well. The afternoon is a little less clean, but the morning is the real deal.

Monday the 27th is a continuation of good waves. The morning is clean again with a 6.2 ft west swell, 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The afternoon goes glassy with a 5.2 ft swell. Solid, consistent surf.

Tuesday the 28th is a bit smaller, with 4.9 ft west swell, period dropping to 9 seconds, but the wind is light and glassy in the afternoon. Good for a fun session.

Now, into the second week, things get a bit more promising but less certain.

Wednesday the 29th has a 7.5 ft west swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is a moderate 12 mph cross-shore, so it’s mixed. The morning is the best shot, but it’s not perfect.

Thursday the 30th is a top pick. The morning is clear, with a 6.2 ft swell from the WSW, a very long 15-second period, and a light cross-off breeze from the ESE. The combined energy is 2708, and the surf is excellent for experienced surfers. The long period will make it powerful at the breakwater, so expect clean, lined-up sets.

Friday the 31st is another standout. The morning is clear, with a 9.8 ft west swell, 13-second period, and a clean cross-off wind. The energy is 3020. This is for the experienced only – it’s big, powerful, but clean. The afternoon drops to 8.2 ft with a cross-on wind, so the morning is the window.

Saturday the 1st of August is a nice drop in size. The morning is clean with a 4.9 ft west swell, 11-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The afternoon goes glassy at 4.3 ft. A good, relaxed day.

Sunday the 2nd is small, with 3 ft in the morning, but the afternoon has a glassy 1.6 ft swell with a 20-second period – very long, but tiny. More of a longboard glide.

Monday the 3rd brings a return of some energy. The morning is clean with a 4.3 ft swell from the WSW, a very long 16-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The afternoon is glassy. Nice, clean, and lined up.

Tuesday the 4th is similar. The morning is clean with a

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 63mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Sat afternoon, min 3°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat morning, calm by Mon afternoon).

Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
1
2
3
1
0
0
0
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
2
2
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
W
10
1.1
W
10
1.4
WSW
13
1.4
W
13
1.4
W
13
2.1
WNW
7
2.1
NW
8
1.6
WSW
12
2.1
W
16
5.5
W
13
4
W
15
3
W
14
2.1
W
14
2
W
13
2
W
13
1.9
W
12
1.6
W
12
1.6
W
9
1.5
W
9
1.5
W
9
2.2
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
204
235
700
683
643
443
557
692
2237
9301
6206
3188
1744
1408
1265
986
678
459
367
373
588
Wind (km/h)
5
ENE
5
NNE
5
ENE
10
NE
15
NNW
25
N
15
NNW
20
WSW
20
WSW
30
SW
20
SW
10
ESE
10
SE
5
WSW
10
ESE
10
ESE
5
WSW
5
ESE
5
E
5
NE
5
SW
Wind State
off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
High Tide
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
9:20AM2.94m
9:42PM3.01m
10:02AM3.04m
10:21PM3.12m
Low Tide
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
3:11AM1.31m
3:35PM1.26m
3:53AM1.21m
4:15PM1.15m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
heavy rain
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
 mm
2
3
24
6
16
12
3
1
Temp °C
12
13
10
12
12
13
12
9
9
8
9
6
7
8
4
7
8
8
10
11
11
Feels °C
11
12
8
10
8
8
10
5
0
0
3
3
4
4
0
4
5
6
9
10
10
  • 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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