Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 15 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.4° C
0.2° 

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 15 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, W swell with 2,981 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s 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 Sunday (Aug 16) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 16th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Sun 16th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 15s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sun 16th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, I'm Rusty, and here's the story for the next couple of weeks. We've got one break to focus on, Cobden Breakwater, and it's a mixed bag of a forecast. The water temperature is sitting at 54°F right now, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no big surprises there.

It kicks off a bit slow. Saturday the 15th has some swell, but the conditions are marginal. The wind is a light cross-on from the south-west, with a solid 8ft swell rolling in from the west at a very long 16 seconds. That's a big energy reading at 2601, but the cross-on wind and questionable tide make it a tough one to call. Sunday morning the 16th looks a bit better with a clean cross-off wind from the east-southeast, and a 8ft west-southwest swell (period 15 seconds), but it's still a marginal call.

The real highlight of the first week is Monday morning the 17th. The sky is clear, the wind is a light cross-off from the east-southeast, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the west, with a 14-second period. The wave energy is moderate (965), and the conditions are expected to be very good. This is the standout for me. It's a great size for a confident intermediate, and that long-period groundswell will have some punch. It's a breakwater, so the long period should wrap in nicely.

Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th continue with good, clean mornings, but the swell drops a bit. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st see the swell dip below 3ft, with the odd glassy or offshore morning, but the energy is weak. Then we have a bit of a lull through the weekend, with the swell picking up again on Sunday the 23rd. That's a big jump – 10ft on Sunday morning, and 12ft on Sunday afternoon from the west-northwest (period 10-11 seconds). The energy is very strong (2989 on Sunday arvo), and the wind is clean cross-off, but this is getting into expert-only territory. It's a big, short-period swell that will be a handful.

Looking further ahead, Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are the next big standouts. Monday morning has a 4ft swell from the west with a very long 19-second period, and offshore wind from the east-northeast. The energy is strong (2047), and the conditions are rated excellent for experienced surfers. Monday afternoon gets even better with a 6ft west swell (17 seconds) and a light cross-off, with energy at 3894. Tuesday morning the 25th is clean and offshore with a 10ft west swell (14 seconds), and Tuesday arvo hits 12ft from the west (14 seconds) – that's a massive 4555 energy reading, but again, it's for experts only. After that, the swell drops off quickly through the end of the month, with smaller, cleaner days on the 27th, 29th, and 30th.

So, the pick of the whole period is Monday morning the 17th for a clean, fun-sized wave, and then the Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th for the big, powerful groundswell if you've got the skills. The long-range stuff is promising but just a heads-up, it's a long way out.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun afternoon, min 2°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
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
4
3
2
3
2
1
3
3
2
3
3
1
2
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
W
16
2.3
W
15
2.1
W
15
1.8
WSW
15
1.5
W
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
14
0.8
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
10
1.5
WSW
10
1.1
W
16
1.1
WSW
15
1
W
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
14
1
WSW
13
1
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1440
2309
1989
1460
965
811
555
236
288
383
596
566
423
605
478
384
437
341
331
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
25
ESE
10
S
15
ESE
10
ESE
5
WSW
10
ESE
10
SE
10
WSW
10
ESE
10
E
10
NW
10
E
10
E
5
NW
10
E
5
E
5
WNW
5
NE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross
off
off
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
00:43AM3.40m
1:05PM3.23m
1:23AM3.24m
1:44PM3.08m
2:05AM3.05m
2:24PM2.92m
2:49AM2.87m
3:08PM2.77m
3:41AM2.70m
4:03PM2.63m
4:45AM2.59m
5:12PM2.55m
Low Tide
6:57AM0.54m
7:13PM0.64m
7:37AM0.70m
7:53PM0.81m
8:18AM0.89m
8:35PM1.00m
9:01AM1.09m
9:24PM1.20m
9:50AM1.28m
10:23PM1.36m
10:53AM1.43m
11:36PM1.46m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:20
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
 mm
3
Temp °C
7
10
11
5
7
7
5
10
11
8
12
12
9
11
11
9
10
11
11
Feels °C
4
5
7
0
4
4
2
8
8
5
10
9
6
9
9
7
8
9
10
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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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