Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.7°C
0.5° 

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 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, W swell with 11,207 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 1st Sep)13ft (4.0m) 11s
Best Surf 9AM (Tue 1st Sep)13ft (4.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 7th Sep)18ft (5.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. For the next 16 days, Cobden Breakwater is your only show in town, and it’s a bit of a wild ride – some real beauty windows, but plenty of moments where the ocean will have the upper hand. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so don’t expect any surprises there. Let’s break it down.

The first decent surf kicks off Tuesday morning, 1 September, with a big 13ft W swell pushing in from the west. The combined energy is pumping at 4020 – that’s strong. Problem is, the wind is a cross-on SSW breeze at 9 mph, making things pretty choppy. Tides and wind are fine, but honestly, that swell is way too meaty for this break unless you’re a seasoned local in the know. The swell drops to 10ft by Tuesday afternoon, but the light cross-onshore wind keeps it messy.

Wednesday morning, 2 September, is where the magic happens. You’ve got a 7ft W groundswell with a long 13-second period, and the wind is absolutely dead calm. Glassy conditions. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, and the 1422 combined energy is solid. This is your standout session – clean, lined-up waves rolling in from the optimum WSW direction. But by Wednesday afternoon, the wind swings WNW at 18 mph, cross-on and lumpy. No good.

Thursday 3 September is a wash with rain and lumpy conditions. A 8ft WNW swell in the morning (combined energy 1038) is cross-on, and tide issues make it marginal. Better to wait.

Friday 4 September is a horror show – 18 mph onshore winds both morning and afternoon with 13ft walls of chop. Combined energy over 2800, but absolutely unsurfable.

Saturday 5 September has a 12ft W swell with very long 14-second period, combined energy 4457. Sounds epic, but it’s again too big and cross-on in the morning. Afternoon is cross-shore and a bit better, but the swell is still 10ft and the wind is 9 mph from the NW. Only for the brave.

Sunday 6 September is blown out with 22 mph NNW cross-winds and a lumpy 6ft swell. Combined energy 3729 means a lot of moving water, but it’s messy.

Monday 7 September sees the biggest swell of the forecast – 18ft W at 14 seconds, combined energy 11207. That’s extreme. Onshore wind at 12 mph from the WSW. For experts only, and even then, survival mode.

Then we get a sweet window: Tuesday 8 September morning. Offshore E wind at 3 mph, clean, with a 8ft W swell at 12 seconds. Combined energy 1883. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. The wind is light offshore, so those waves will be peeling nicely. This is your second standout.

Wednesday 9 September is small – 3ft W swell, combined energy only 400. Wind is cross-off NNE at 12 mph, so clean but tiny.

Thursday 10 September has a 7ft W swell with a very long 19-second period, combined energy 3950. That’s a lot of energy, but the wind is cross-on from the SSW at 9 mph. Those long-period waves will wrap around, but it’s choppy.

Friday 11 September morning is glassy again, with an ESE wind at 3 mph, and a solid 8ft W swell at 16 seconds. Combined energy 3284. Excellent for experienced surfers. The wind is near glass, so expect clean, powerful lines. Another standout.

Saturday 12 September morning – dead calm, glassy, 8ft W swell at 15 seconds, combined energy 3258. Same story, clean and powerful. These two mornings are the best of the second week.

Sunday 13 September gets messy again with cross-on winds and a 10ft swell.

The rest of the forecast into the third week has big swell (10ft to 13ft) with off and cross-off winds, but the swell is consistently too big for this break. The very end, Wednesday 16 September morning, has a 13ft W swell with light cross-off wind, but again, size over 8ft means it’s for experts only.

So the absolute standout is Wednesday morning, 2 September – glassy, groundswell, and decent size. Next best are Tuesday 8 September morning and Friday 11 September morning for clean, powerful conditions. If you’re in the water during those glassy windows, you’ll be smiling.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Tue night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 80mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Thu night, light winds from the W by Sat morning).

Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
3
3
4
0
0
3
3
0
0
0
!
!
4
4
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
5.5
WSW
12
4
W
11
3
W
10
1.5
W
13
2
W
13
1.2
WSW
14
2.5
W
9
2.4
WNW
9
1.7
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
4
WNW
9
4
W
10
4
W
12
3.5
W
14
3
W
14
3
W
16
1.9
W
16
3.5
WNW
10
4
WNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
8380
4020
2057
824
1422
588
1131
960
1206
986
2845
2698
4898
4457
3540
4649
1904
2572
3416
Wind (km/h)
40
WSW
15
SSW
10
SW
10
WSW
0
NW
30
WNW
20
WNW
10
NW
15
NNW
40
NNW
30
W
30
WSW
20
WSW
10
W
15
NW
25
N
35
NNW
30
WNW
35
WSW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
High Tide
00:45AM3.33m
1:07PM3.21m
1:25AM3.23m
1:48PM3.10m
2:10AM3.09m
2:36PM2.97m
3:07AM2.93m
3:37PM2.83m
4:20AM2.79m
4:56PM2.74m
5:44AM2.74m
6:22PM2.77m
Low Tide
6:59AM0.65m
7:15PM0.73m
7:40AM0.75m
7:58PM0.84m
8:26AM0.90m
8:50PM0.99m
9:22AM1.06m
9:58PM1.12m
10:34AM1.20m
11:22PM1.18m
12:00PM1.23m
00:46AM1.10m
light rain
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
thunderstorm
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:54
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:14
 mm
1
2
2
1
3
11
4
3
20
4
4
5
3
4
12
22
6
7
Temp °C
9
9
9
10
12
13
14
14
15
14
11
11
10
11
12
12
14
12
11
Feels °C
-1
4
6
6
7
7
10
13
13
10
5
4
5
9
9
8
8
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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