Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 27 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.3° C
0.2° 

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 27 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, W swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 14s period, W swell with 13,605 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period. 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 6.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Mon 27th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 1st Aug)13ft (4.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 3PM (Fri 31st Jul)20ft (6.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, lookin' at the charts for Cobden Breakwater over the next couple weeks. First thing you’ll notice, Monday the 27th of July is where it all kicks off, so there’s no gap at the start.

First up, Monday morning the 27th. We’ve got a solid 6ft groundswell rolling in from the west with a nice long 12-second period. Water temp is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year. The wind’s a light cross-off from the ESE at 6 mph, so the surface is gonna be clean. Combined wave energy is a solid moderate 900. This is some really nice, user-friendly stuff for an intermediate surfer.

Monday afternoon, the wind drops to glassy, dead calm, with the swell settling to 5ft from the west. That’s the kind of session where it’s just you and the ocean. Clean, glassy, beautiful.

Tuesday the 28th keeps the trend going with a smaller 4ft west swell in the morning and glassy conditions again by the afternoon. Light cross-off winds keep it clean all day.

Then Wednesday the 29th, we see a shift. Swell bumps up to 5ft from the west, but check out that period: 14 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell. Combined energy is a strong 725. This is where the breakwater really starts to work its magic, shaping those long lines. Wind stays light and cross-off.

Thursday the 30th, the morning looks great with clean 4ft west swell at 13 seconds. But keep an eye on the afternoon. The wind is gonna crank from the north at 19 mph, pushing the swell to 8ft from the northwest with a short, nasty 8-second period. That’s 1230 of messy, bumpy energy. The conditions are turning, and that swell is getting too unruly for the average punter.

Friday the 31st is a day to stay on the beach. It gets ugly. A big 12ft to 20ft westerly swell shows up, but it’s howling onshore at 28 mph from the WSW. That’s a washing machine with a combined energy of 13,605. This is strictly for the thrill-seekers or, to be honest, it looks way more suited to the kite crew than us paddle surfers.

Now, the real standout of this whole run. Look at Saturday the 1st of August. The storm has moved through. We’ve got a clean 7ft west swell at 11 seconds, with gentle cross-off winds from the ESE at 9 mph. The combined energy is a strong 1139. The morning is gonna be firing, with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Crowds are rare here, so you might have a few friends out, but it won’t be a circus.

Sunday the 2nd backs off a bit with a 5ft swell, dropping to 8 seconds. It’s still clean in the morning, but the afternoon gets a bit of onshore wind and goes marginal.

Now, keep your eyes peeled for Monday the 3rd of August. This is the other big ticket. Swell is a lower 4ft, but the period jumps to an epic 19 seconds from the west – that is some serious, juice-packed groundswell. The afternoon goes glassy with a 5ft, 17-second WSW swell. The combined energy is over 1200. At a breakwater like this, that long period is going to wrap in beautifully, providing some absolute runners. It’s a special day for those who know.

The rest of the first week of August stays consistent, with waist-to-chest high swell and light winds, but nothing that hits the heights of that Saturday or Monday. The second week, from around the 6th of August onwards, the swell drops right off. We’re looking at small, weak surf, under 3ft, with energy down in the 100s. There are a few glassy afternoons on the 8th and 10th offering up some clean but tiny waves. The promising call for the 11th of August shows a return of a good 4ft to 4ft, 15-second west swell and glassy conditions, with energy jumping to 1178. That’s a promising look, but it’s far out, so take it with a grain of salt.

So, to boil it down: for the best of the best, you’re looking at Saturday the 1st of August for that solid 7ft west swell with clean winds, and Monday the 3rd of August for the pure quality of that 19-second groundswell. Both are absolute crackers for Cobden.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue afternoon, min 4°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 4°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds.

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
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
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
1
0
0
!
4
3
2
2
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
W
12
1.6
W
12
1.3
W
11
1.3
W
11
1.2
W
11
1.2
W
10
1
WSW
14
1.4
W
14
1.2
WSW
13
1.2
W
13
2.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
10
3.5
WNW
10
6
W
14
4
W
13
2.2
W
11
1.7
W
10
1.7
W
9
1.4
W
8
1.4
WSW
8
0.7
W
20
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
900
687
394
379
319
296
425
725
539
488
860
1245
2269
13605
4715
1130
546
455
270
290
400
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
0
S
10
ESE
10
ESE
0
WSW
10
E
10
E
5
NE
10
NE
10
NE
30
N
20
NW
30
W
45
WSW
5
ENE
15
ESE
10
SE
15
ESE
10
ESE
10
SW
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
High Tide
9:20AM2.94m
9:42PM3.01m
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
Low Tide
3:35PM1.26m
3:53AM1.21m
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
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:50
7:50
7:48
7:48
7:47
7:46
7:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
2
18
16
5
4
3
Temp °C
7
9
6
8
10
8
9
10
9
13
12
11
10
10
8
9
10
6
9
11
7
Feels °C
4
7
3
6
9
6
7
8
6
9
6
7
3
0
2
4
5
1
6
7
4
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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