Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, W swell with 8,660 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 (Sep 07) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. 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 3.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Cobden Breakwater starts quiet, then gets proper heavy. First few days are small and clean, then it’s big-wave country for the experienced crew.
Surf kicks off Monday 7th September. Monday morning: 5ft swell from the WSW, 14-second period, cross-off ESE wind at 12 mph – clean, moderate energy (1215). Monday afternoon is the pick early on: 5ft from the WSW, 14 seconds, light offshore east wind at 6 mph – clean waves, energy 1042. Water temp is 55°F, about normal. Tuesday morning drops to 3ft from the west, 10-second period, light offshore east at 3 mph, clean but weak (387 energy). Tuesday afternoon goes cross-shore. Wednesday morning is glassy with 4ft west swell, 11-second period, 499 energy – nice but small.
Thursday 10th September jumps: 7ft morning, 7ft afternoon, both onshore from the SW at 12 mph – messy. Friday 11th morning: 12ft west swell, 18-second period, glassy with light SSW air – massive energy at 7537. That’s over 8ft, so experts only. Friday afternoon turns onshore at 22 mph – no good. Saturday 12th: 15ft morning, 13ft afternoon, strong onshore – kite-surfing conditions. Sunday 13th morning: 12ft, 12 seconds, cross-off ESE at 3 mph, clean but huge (3668 energy). Monday 14th morning: 4ft WSW swell, 15 seconds, light offshore east at 6 mph, energy 1016 – clean and great for experienced surfers. Tuesday 15th is small and choppy.
Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th September: all massive – 13ft to 16ft, mostly onshore or cross, energy from 3015 to 10719. Big-wave only. Saturday 19th morning: 8ft west swell, 17 seconds, light offshore NE at 3 mph, energy 4891 – clean, excellent for experts. Saturday afternoon holds at 8ft, 16 seconds, gentle cross-off north wind. Sunday 20th morning: 10ft NNW, short 8-second period, moderate offshore NE at 12 mph – clean but weak push. Afternoon is 15ft, too big. Monday 21st morning: 8ft west swell, 15 seconds, glassy with light NE air, energy 5353 – exceptional for experts.
Best windows: Monday 7th afternoon for clean small waves, Monday 14th morning for a nice clean session, and Monday 21st morning for glassy, powerful, expert-level surf. Friday 11th morning is a beast if you’re game. The rest is either tiny or enormous.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, strong winds from the WSW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 16 | W 15 | W 19 | W 18 | W 17 | W 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2979 | 1708 | 966 | 815 | 214 | 188 | 341 | 164 | 338 | 400 | 314 | 1985 | 2090 | 6833 | 7537 | 5313 | 4216 | 4770 | 3353 | 4800 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:22PM2.77m | 7:02AM2.80m | 7:37PM2.91m | 8:11AM2.94m | 8:39PM3.09m | 9:07AM3.09m | 9:29PM3.26m | 9:56AM3.21m | 10:14PM3.38m | 10:38AM3.29m | 10:56PM3.42m | 11:18AM3.31m | 11:35PM3.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:46AM1.10m | 1:21PM1.12m | 1:57AM0.94m | 2:26PM0.94m | 2:54AM0.74m | 3:19PM0.74m | 3:44AM0.57m | 4:05PM0.58m | 4:28AM0.46m | 4:46PM0.49m | 5:08AM0.43m | 5:25PM0.47m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | |  |  | |  | |  | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — |
mm | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 | — | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | -1 | -1 | -2 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 16 | W 15 | W 19 | W 18 | W 17 | WSW 16 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2979 | 1708 | 966 | 815 | 214 | 188 | 341 | 164 | 338 | 400 | 314 | 1985 | 2090 | 6833 | 7537 | 5313 | 273 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | WSW 19 | W 18 | W 21 | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 559 | 249 | 227 | 173 | 80 | 57 | 48 | 34 | 119 | 156 | 233 | 634 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 8 | N 8 | — | N 8 | WSW 12 | NW 10 | W 9 | WSW 20 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 270 | 131 | — | 57 | 119 | 26 | 41 | 127 | 17 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 10 |
| kJ | 1164 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4216 | 4770 | 3353 | 4800 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 197 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 153 | 201 | 0 | 0 | 213 | 153 | 153 | 752 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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