
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, W swell with 2,643 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m 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 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what we’ve got for Cobden Breakwater over the next couple of weeks. It’s a breakwater spot down here that picks up swell from the west and southwest.
Things are a bit average to start with, mate. The first few days – Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th – the wind is on it, the swell is a bit lumpy, and it’s just marginal. You wouldn’t be rushing for the car keys. The combined wave energy is high, around 2388 on Sunday morning, but the onshore wind spoils the party. We’ve got a bit of a lull in quality for a few days there.
The first real stand-out window kicks off on Tuesday morning, the 15th of September. The wind drops right out – glassy, with an easterly breeze at just 3 mph. You’ve got a clean, 4 ft groundswell from the WSW with a long 14-second period. The energy is moderate (514). It’s not huge, but for a breakwater, that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely and hold its shape. It’s a fairly consistent spot, and with the glassy conditions, it’ll be clean as a whistle. The water temp anomaly is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. Crowds are rare here, so you could have it pretty much to yourself. This is the pick of the first week.
Later in the week, Thursday morning the 17th picks up a bit of size – 6 ft from the WSW with a 13-second period – and the wind is a cross-off easterly at 9 mph. That’s excellent for experienced surfers, but it’s solid, so beginners might find it a handful. The energy is strong (1435).
Now, for the real standout of the whole outlook, you want to look about a week and a half out. Wednesday morning, the 23rd of September. The wind is a light cross-off easterly at 6 mph, and we’ve got a solid 10 ft swell from the west, 14-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 4238 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. That’s big stuff, 10 ft is expert territory. It’s going to be powerful and clean. If you’re advanced, mark that date.
Then on Friday the 25th of September, another beauty: 7 ft from the west, a very long 16-second period, and glassy conditions with next to no wind. The energy is high (3066). That’s a proper groundswell. For a breakwater, that long period will create some nice, lined-up waves, but it might break a bit straight, so you need to pick your take-off spot. Again, this one is for experienced surfers.
There’s a bit of surf scattered through the rest of the period, but the wind turns onshore or gets strong, especially after the 25th. Sunday the 27th and Monday the 28th are a write-off with fresh onshore winds and poor conditions.
So, bottom line: the first real green light is Tuesday morning the 15th for a clean, smaller session. The big, serious swell comes around the 23rd and 25th. Those are your two true standouts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue night, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1347 | 1026 | 953 | 1007 | 1382 | 951 | 514 | 192 | 168 | 347 | 1201 | 578 | 943 | 1251 | 2036 | 1169 | 1619 | 1363 | 2444 | 2643 | 2117 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:55AM3.27m | 00:12AM3.28m | 12:30PM3.18m | 00:49AM3.14m | 1:06PM3.06m | 1:27AM2.98m | 1:42PM2.91m | 2:08AM2.81m | 2:24PM2.76m | 2:58AM2.65m | 3:15PM2.61m | 4:01AM2.53m | 4:25PM2.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:03PM0.53m | 6:24AM0.57m | 6:39PM0.64m | 7:00AM0.71m | 7:16PM0.80m | 7:37AM0.89m | 7:55PM0.97m | 8:18AM1.07m | 8:40PM1.16m | 9:05AM1.25m | 9:38PM1.32m | 10:07AM1.39m | 10:53PM1.42m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | WSW 16 | W 9 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 15 |
1347 | 1003 | 699 | 1007 | 1382 | 951 | 514 | 192 | 168 | 347 | 1201 | 578 | 943 | 1251 | 2036 | 1169 | 1619 | 1363 | 2444 | 2643 | 2117 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 15 | W 8 | — | — | — | N 12 | WSW 13 | W 18 | — | WSW 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | WSW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 |
— | — | 953 | 295 | — | — | — | 3 | 98 | 6 | — | 507 | 346 | 338 | 125 | 271 | 158 | 135 | 81 | 40 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 113 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1041 | 1026 | — | — | — | — | — | 157 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 153 | 201 | 0 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 272 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 153 | 0 | 85 | 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.










