Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, W swell with 6,973 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the way for Cobden Breakwater, so let’s get into it.
The window kicks off with a clean little swell. Tuesday morning, 28 July, we’re looking at a clean 4-foot wave from the W with a nice 11-second period. The wind is a light cross-off, so the surface will be tidy. The combined swell energy is 328 (moderate), and the water is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. It’s a decent start, but the real juice starts building after that.
Wednesday, 29 July, is a step up. The swell drops a touch to 3 feet in the morning but the period jumps to 14 seconds, and the energy is 573 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the E – that’s a beauty. The afternoon sees the swell bump to 5 feet from the WSW, still with that 14-second period, and the energy climbs to 743 (moderate). Clean, lined-up waves. This is a cracking day.
Thursday morning, 30 July, holds the quality with 4 feet from the W, 13-second period, and offshore ENE wind. Energy is 664 (moderate). But then Thursday afternoon gets messy – the wind swings to the N and picks up to 15 mph, the swell jumps to 6 feet but the period drops to 8 seconds (short period), and the energy is 939 (moderate). The wind is cross-off, but that short period will make it lumpy. Look to the morning for your best bet.
Friday, 31 July, is a write-off. Strong winds from the NW and WNW at 25 mph, with the swell pushing 8 feet to 13 feet. It’s messy, cross-onshore, and the energy is through the roof (2431 to 3941 – strong). That’s not for paddling. Leave it alone.
Saturday, 1 August, clears up nicely. The morning is still a bit big at 10 feet from the W, 13 seconds, with a cross-off ESE breeze. That’s expert territory. The afternoon settles to 8 feet, 12 seconds, still clean, and the energy is 1453 (strong). For experienced surfers, this is a standout: big, clean, and powerful.
Sunday, 2 August, eases back. Morning has 5 feet from the W, 9-second period, and a light cross-off. The energy drops to 412 (moderate). Afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on wind, so stick to the morning.
Monday, 3 August, is another highlight. The swell is 4 feet from the WSW, but the period is a massive 18 seconds – that’s very long-period groundswell. Energy is 1082 (strong). The wind is offshore from the E. This is the kind of day where the breakwater will really shine, with long, clean walls. The afternoon is equally good with 4 feet and 17 seconds. This is the best on offer.
The quality continues through the first week of August. Tuesday, 4 August, has 5 feet from the WSW, 14 seconds, and glassy conditions in the afternoon. Wednesday, 5 August, holds 5 feet, 14 seconds, and clean cross-off winds in the morning.
After a small dip on Thursday, 6 August, we get another standout on Friday, 7 August. The morning has 8 feet from the WSW, 10 seconds, with a clean cross-off ESE wind. The energy is 1043 (strong). That’s a powerful, solid wave for experienced surfers.
The swell fades over the weekend of 8-9 August, with small, clean waves in the 2-2 foot range, but the period goes very long again (21 seconds on Sunday). Those waves will be tricky on the breakwater, but the glassy mornings are worth a look for the patient surfer.
The second week (10-12 August) sees a return of consistent, clean swell. Monday morning, 10 August, has 4 feet from the WSW, 11 seconds, and a cross-off breeze. Energy is 459 (moderate). The afternoon picks up to 4 feet and the energy hits 505 (moderate). Tuesday, 11 August, has 5 feet, 14 seconds, and clean conditions all day. The energy is 900 (moderate). Wednesday, 12 August, is a little smaller at 3 feet, but still clean.
Overall, the standout days are Wednesday, 29 July (morning and afternoon) for that perfect combo of offshore wind and long-period groundswell, and Monday, 3 August (morning and afternoon) for the very long-period swell with offshore wind. The Saturday, 1 August afternoon and Friday, 7 August morning are also excellent for experienced surfers looking for size.
Crowds are rare here, so you’ll have plenty of room to enjoy it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri morning, min 3°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Fri morning, light winds from the S by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | W 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 323 | 319 | 296 | 425 | 743 | 627 | 513 | 509 | 1510 | 1643 | 3941 | 4815 | 2833 | 1444 | 586 | 363 | 311 | 767 | 929 | 1009 | 653 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:02AM3.04m | 10:21PM3.12m | 10:41AM3.13m | 10:56PM3.21m | 11:16AM3.19m | 11:30PM3.27m | 11:50AM3.21m | 00:03AM3.30m | 12:24PM3.21m | 00:37AM3.29m | 12:59PM3.18m | 1:12AM3.25m | 1:35PM3.12m | 1:51AM3.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:15PM1.15m | 4:31AM1.10m | 4:51PM1.04m | 5:06AM0.99m | 5:24PM0.94m | 5:41AM0.90m | 5:57PM0.87m | 6:15AM0.83m | 6:30PM0.83m | 6:50AM0.79m | 7:05PM0.82m | 7:27AM0.79m | 7:42PM0.85m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 10 | NW 9 | — | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | W 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 |
| kJ | 323 | 319 | 296 | 425 | 743 | 627 | 513 | 509 | 1510 | 788 | — | 4815 | 2833 | 1444 | 586 | 363 | 311 | 767 | 929 | 1009 | 653 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | W 9 | — | W 10 | — | WSW 18 | W 17 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | W 22 | W 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 22 | W 8 | WSW 11 | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | — | 148 | — | 31 | 140 | 308 | 295 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 8 | 36 | 164 | 134 | 153 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | W 20 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 122 | 307 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | W 11 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 1643 | 3941 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 156 | 197 | 153 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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