
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, W swell with 1,089 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s take a look at what’s brewing for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start for Cobden Breakwater, but the second half of the week is where things get interesting. We’ve got a solid mix of swell and some real clean windows. The water’s sitting at 54°F with no anomaly, so pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year.
The first real standout is Saturday morning, 1st of August. We’ve got a 6ft W swell, 11-second period, and cross-off wind from the ESE at 9 mph. The wave energy is moderate (852), and with that clean face, it’ll be a fun, punchy session for intermediates. That’s a solid start.
Sunday morning, 2nd of August, drops off to a smaller 3ft WSW swell, but the wind is light and cross-off, so it’s still clean. Not a standout, but a nice morning paddle if you’ve got a log.
Now, Monday 3rd of August brings a jump in energy. The morning shows a 4ft WSW swell with a very long 18-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 1312. But the wind is onshore from the SW at 6 mph, and there’s rain showers. It’s a bit messy, but that long period means there’ll be power in the water. The afternoon turns ugly with 8ft onshore junk and 16 mph wind – that’s a kite day, not a paddle day.
Tuesday 4th of August is where it gets really good. The morning is clean with a 4ft WSW swell, 15-second period, light cross-off wind. The afternoon is even better: 5ft W swell, 14-second period, glassy conditions with NNE wind at 3 mph. The energy is strong (1093), and it’s clean. This is a top pick for experienced surfers – the waves will have shape and power.
Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th are smaller and more average, with waist-high stuff and clean but not exciting conditions. A good rest day.
Friday 7th of August, we see a shift. The swell jumps to 7ft from the NNW, 9-second period, and the wind is light cross-off all day. The energy is moderate (684), and the waves will be fun and consistent. This is a good one for intermediate to experienced surfers.
Saturday 8th of August continues the trend with a 5ft to 6ft NNW swell, 8-9 seconds, and offshore wind from the ENE to NE at 6 mph. The wave energy is strong (893 in the afternoon). Clean, offshore conditions and solid swell – this is a standout morning session. Crowds are possible, but with that quality, it’ll be worth it.
The following week from Sunday 9th to Tuesday 11th settles back into smaller, cleaner waves, 3ft to 3ft, with long periods (14-16 seconds). Glassy afternoons, especially on the 11th with a 14-second W swell and glassy wind. Good for a longboard or a fish.
Wednesday 12th of August, the afternoon brings a surprise: 6ft from the NNW, 7-second period, with glassy wind. That’s short-period, but clean and fun. The energy is moderate (547).
Thursday 13th and Friday 14th are both excellent. Thursday morning has a 5ft NW swell, 10 seconds, cross-off wind, and strong energy (911). The afternoon is glassy. Friday 14th is glassy all day, with a 4ft W swell, 12 seconds in the morning, and a 6ft W swell, 8 seconds in the afternoon. This is a long, clean run of quality surf.
Now, the big one. Saturday 15th of August. The morning is absolutely pumping: 5ft WSW swell, 19-second period, cross-off wind, and the combined energy is massive at 2588. That’s strong to very strong energy. The afternoon jumps to 6ft, same period, but with onshore wind, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The morning is the pick – long-period groundswell, clean, powerful. This is for experienced surfers only. The break will hold it well, but the long period might make it a bit walled at times. Still, this is the best on offer.
Then Sunday 16th of August, the morning is a washout: 12ft W swell, 15 seconds, but with strong onshore wind at 12 mph. That’s a hard pass. The afternoon, however, is a beauty: 10ft W swell, 14 seconds, and glassy conditions. The energy is huge (3747). This is expert-only, big-wave territory. If you’ve got the skills and the board, this is the session of the forecast.
So, overall: the standout sessions are Saturday 1st of August morning, Tuesday 4th of August afternoon, Saturday 8th of August morning, and the big swells on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of August afternoons. Those are the ones to circle on the calendar.
Stay frothy,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 5°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 21 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 15 | W 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
843 | 371 | 251 | 107 | 146 | 614 | 929 | 1043 | 803 | 551 | 1063 | 523 | 334 | 155 | 74 | 58 | 126 | 226 | 616 | 616 | 647 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 12:24PM3.21m | 00:37AM3.29m | 12:59PM3.18m | 1:12AM3.25m | 1:35PM3.12m | 1:51AM3.17m | 2:15PM3.03m | 2:34AM3.07m | 3:01PM2.93m | 3:26AM2.95m | 3:58PM2.83m | 4:32AM2.86m | 5:08PM2.77m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:30PM0.83m | 6:50AM0.79m | 7:05PM0.82m | 7:27AM0.79m | 7:42PM0.85m | 8:08AM0.83m | 8:24PM0.92m | 8:52AM0.91m | 9:13PM1.01m | 9:45AM1.02m | 10:14PM1.10m | 10:49AM1.11m | 11:28PM1.15m | ||||||||
7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | W 8 | W 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | NNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 |
843 | 371 | 251 | 107 | 111 | 121 | 929 | 737 | 427 | 368 | 1063 | 523 | 334 | 155 | 21 | 50 | 126 | 226 | 616 | 616 | 647 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 22 | WSW 13 | N 6 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | WSW 15 | W 20 | W 18 | W 16 | W 8 | W 8 | N 5 | NNW 5 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 |
9 | 53 | 7 | 93 | 65 | 614 | — | — | — | 551 | 30 | 56 | 47 | 36 | 33 | 12 | 8 | 37 | 33 | 42 | 22 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 7 | W 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
— | 4 | 8 | 35 | 146 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51 | 74 | 58 | 49 | 28 | 35 | 35 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 7 | W 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | ENE 2 | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | E 3 |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | 383 | 1043 | 803 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 153 | 122 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 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.











