
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, NW swell with 3,916 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period with NW 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 (Aug 07) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) 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 1.8m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and let’s get into it. We’re looking at one spot on the map for this whole stretch: Cobden Breakwater. It’s a fairly consistent breakwater, and the water temp is sitting at 54.1°F, which is dead on average for this time of year. Nothing weird there, just normal cold water. You’ll want the full rubber.
The first action kicks off on Friday the 7th. Morning sees a 5.6ft west-northwest swell with a 10-second period, and the east wind is cross-off. It’s clean, and the energy reading is 598, which is moderate. It builds through the day, and by the afternoon we’re looking at 7.5ft of northwest groundswell with that easterly offshore holding it together. Energy jumps to 1053, and the conditions are excellent for anyone with some experience. Not for beginners, this is proper surf.
Saturday the 8th keeps it going. Morning swell is a touch smaller at 6.6ft from the north-northwest, but with a shorter 8-second period. Still offshore and clean, energy 561. The afternoon pumps it to 8.2ft, period stretches to 9 seconds, and the energy more than doubles to 1222. Again, this is for experienced surfers.
Sunday the 9th gets messy. Wind swings to the west-northwest, putting a cross-on breeze on it. The swell is still pushing 6.9ft in the morning and 5.2ft in the afternoon, but the chop and cross-shore wind knock the shine off. Marginal, questionable conditions. I’d give Sunday a miss.
Now here’s the standout in the first week. Monday the 10th. The swell drops to a clean 3.6ft, but it’s a long-period 15-second groundswell from the west-southwest. And the wind? It’s glassy in the afternoon. Totally flat-calm. The energy is still moderate at 848 in the morning, dropping to 559 by the arvo, but with that kind of period and clean conditions, it’s going to be pure, peeling lines. This is the sort of day where you paddle out and don’t want to come in.
Tuesday the 11th is smaller, with a 2.6ft swell in the morning and 4.3ft in the afternoon. Still clean with cross-off winds, but the energy is weaker. It’s a fun-size day.
The real power returns Wednesday the 12th. Morning sees 8.2ft of northwest swell with an 11-second period, energy is 1786, and it’s clean. By the afternoon it’s up to 9.8ft, and the energy cranks to 2163. This is big, powerful surf. Only for those who know what they’re doing. Thursday the 13th holds that size, with 8.2ft in the morning and a 12-second period, energy 1908. It backs off a bit in the afternoon to 6.2ft.
Now, into the second week, things get serious. Friday the 14th brings in a solid 9.8ft in the morning, energy 3240. By the afternoon it’s 11.5ft with a 13-second period, and the energy is at 4330. That’s very strong. The problem is, it’s too big for the break. It’s just going to be a washing machine. Saturday the 15th is worse, hitting 13.1ft in the afternoon. Again, just too much water moving for this breakwater to handle. It’s a kite-surfing dream, but for us paddle surfers, it’s a no-go.
Sunday the 16th holds those big numbers, 9.8ft with the energy at 3692 and 4873 in the arvo, and the period stretching to 17 seconds in the afternoon. That’s a very long-period groundswell. It’s still huge, but the wind stays cross-off, so it’s clean. This is expert territory, and even then, you’d want to be very selective. It’s likely going to be breaking too straight for a breakwater like this.
The swell finally backs down on
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 66mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | W 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NW 11 | NW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
580 | 1028 | 635 | 500 | 953 | 655 | 660 | 502 | 612 | 543 | 529 | 434 | 222 | 202 | 739 | 1654 | 2041 | 2396 | 1877 | 813 | 1599 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:08PM2.77m | 5:48AM2.82m | 6:28PM2.79m | 7:05AM2.87m | 7:43PM2.92m | 8:17AM2.99m | 8:48PM3.11m | 9:19AM3.15m | 9:44PM3.30m | 10:13AM3.29m | 10:33PM3.44m | 11:01AM3.37m | 11:19PM3.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:49AM1.11m | 11:28PM1.15m | 12:06PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.10m | 1:25PM1.10m | 2:02AM0.96m | 2:35PM0.95m | 3:04AM0.76m | 3:33PM0.76m | 3:58AM0.58m | 4:23PM0.60m | 4:47AM0.45m | 5:09PM0.50m | ||||||||
7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | |
mm | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NW 11 | NW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NW 10 |
580 | 1028 | 635 | 500 | 953 | 655 | 660 | 502 | 356 | 543 | 529 | 434 | 222 | 202 | 739 | 1654 | 2041 | 2396 | 1877 | 813 | 1599 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | W 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WNW 6 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | W 13 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 19 |
18 | 17 | 15 | 47 | 106 | 222 | 247 | 243 | 98 | 216 | 165 | 125 | 86 | 82 | 230 | 132 | 122 | 18 | 28 | 407 | 361 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 20 | W 19 | WSW 12 | W 18 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 16 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 18 | W 19 | W 18 | WNW 13 | — | — | — | W 20 | WSW 20 | — |
— | 8 | 27 | 14 | 163 | 40 | 76 | 86 | 612 | 89 | 30 | 64 | 190 | 165 | 99 | — | — | — | 31 | 75 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 3 | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 38 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











