Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
13.7° C
0.9° 

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 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 13 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, W swell with 2,616 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 16s 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 10th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 16s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 13th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 10s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 15th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 15s

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


G’day, this is Rusty. Let’s look at what’s on offer for Cobden Breakwater over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming through, starting with a nice pulse of WSW groundswell. The first few days will be the pick of the period, with clean conditions and a good mix of size. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Thursday July 9th kicks things off with a 5ft swell from the WSW, period at 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with good energy (combined energy of 1254). The wind is a cross-off ESE breeze, so the waves will be clean. This is a great one for experienced surfers. Thursday afternoon holds similar with 5ft and still clean.

Friday July 10th is a real standout. The morning sees 4ft of swell but the period stretches to 16 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is still solid (793). But the real magic is Friday afternoon: the wind drops to glassy, 4ft of that long-period WSW swell, and the energy is 637. That’s pure, clean surf, perfect for a long session. The break is a breakwater, and with that long period, it’ll focus nicely.

Saturday July 11th keeps the good times rolling. Saturday morning gives 4ft of swell with 16-second period, clean under a cross-off breeze. Saturday afternoon is flat calm – glassy, 4ft, and that same lovely long period. This is another top session.

Sunday July 12th is still decent, with 4ft of swell in the morning, clean, but the energy is dropping (566). The afternoon sees a bit of cloud and a cross-off wind, 3ft, still workable.

From Monday July 13th the swell dips. The morning has only 2ft, and the afternoon gets a messy 5ft from the NW with a short 8-second period – that’s a bit of a windswell mix, so I’d skip that.

Tuesday July 14th is a nice surprise. Morning brings 6ft of NNW swell, short period at 9 seconds, but the wind is glassy and the energy is high (754). That’s clean and punchy, good for a fun session. The afternoon shifts to 4ft from the W with 11 seconds, still glassy.

Now, Wednesday July 15th is the big one. The morning has 8ft of swell from the W, 15-second period, and the energy is massive (2525). That’s a powerful, long-period groundswell. The wind is light cross-off, so it’ll be clean. This is expert territory – 8ft in the afternoon with even more energy (2541). This is the standout of the entire forecast. Only for experienced surfers, but it’s going to be epic.

Thursday July 16th is still pumping with 7ft in the morning (energy 1769) and 6ft in the afternoon (1447), both from the W with 15-second periods. Clean under cross-off winds. Another strong day for the experts.

Things settle down after that. Friday July 17th has 4ft in the morning, then a glassy 3ft in the afternoon. Saturday July 18th is small, with 3ft in the morning and a glassy 3ft in the afternoon with a 16-second period – that’s a sneaky good one for the log or a mid-length.

Sunday July 19th brings another pulse of size: 8ft in the morning from the NNW, 11-second period, big energy (2232). That’s clean and powerful. But the afternoon is a write-off – 10ft of NNW swell, cross-on wind, and questionable conditions. That’s a messy, blown-out wave.

The final week from Monday July 20th through to Friday July 24th sees very small surf, mostly under 3ft, with a few spicy moments on Wednesday July 22nd (6ft to 8ft from the W, 12-second period, but the wind is up and conditions are marginal, so it’s more of a kite surf setup than a paddle session). The energy is there (1031 to 1845), but the quality isn’t.

Thursday July 23rd and Friday July 24th are small and clean but not worth getting excited about – 4ft to 4ft, with the odd glassy afternoon.

So, the best on offer is Wednesday July 15th with that big, clean, long-period swell for the experts, and Friday July 10th afternoon through Saturday July 11th for the cleanest, most user-friendly conditions.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu afternoon, min 2°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon night, min 7°C on Sun morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
4
3
3
4
4
4
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
18
1.3
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
16
1
WSW
15
1.2
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
15
1
WSW
15
0.9
WSW
14
0.6
WSW
14
1.5
NW
8
2.5
NNW
9
1.7
NNW
9
1.3
W
11
2
WNW
11
2.4
W
15
2.5
W
14
2.3
W
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1106
874
521
793
628
456
797
768
758
566
462
346
156
255
1291
417
426
926
2525
2541
2246
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
15
ESE
15
ESE
15
E
5
ESE
10
ESE
10
ESE
0
SW
10
ESE
10
E
10
NNE
15
NNE
15
ENE
20
NE
0
E
5
ESE
5
NNW
10
NE
10
NE
10
NNE
10
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
5:39PM2.81m
6:09AM2.91m
6:47PM2.87m
7:17AM2.98m
7:53PM2.99m
8:22AM3.10m
8:55PM3.16m
9:25AM3.23m
9:53PM3.33m
10:23AM3.35m
10:46PM3.47m
11:16AM3.43m
11:37PM3.54m
Low Tide
11:22AM1.03m
11:53PM1.09m
12:27PM1.03m
1:01AM1.02m
1:35PM0.97m
2:08AM0.90m
2:41PM0.88m
3:10AM0.75m
3:41PM0.76m
4:07AM0.60m
4:35PM0.64m
5:00AM0.50m
5:26PM0.57m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:03
8:03
8:02
8:02
8:00
8:00
8:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:16
5:17
5:17
5:19
5:20
5:21
5:21
 mm
1
5
15
21
2
5
4
Temp °C
9
10
4
8
10
6
8
10
7
10
11
10
11
11
12
12
12
11
12
12
12
Feels °C
4
6
-1
4
8
3
5
8
4
8
9
7
7
4
10
11
11
8
10
10
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for West Coast South Island

  1. Tauranga Bay is not a point break

    Tauranga Bay, 77 km away
Expand
<
>
View all

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cobden Breakwater surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest