
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, W swell with 5,703 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 16s 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Cobden Breakwater over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. Tuesday the 14th kicks off with a clean 5ft swell from the WNW, period at 10 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The combined energy is moderate at 798 – it’s surfable, but honestly, it’s not the standout of the window. The afternoon goes downhill fast with a strong cross-shore wind and lumpy chop, so I’d get out early or skip it.
Now, Wednesday the 15th morning is where things get real interesting. A solid 12ft groundswell from the west, with a long 15-second period, is pushing through. The combined energy is massive at 4745 – that’s a powerful, beefy swell. Winds are light and cross-off, so the face should be clean. But here’s the thing – at 12ft, this is strictly for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay on the beach. The afternoon drops a bit to 10ft, still big and clean, but the wind picks up. Still, if you’ve got the skills, Wednesday morning is the pick of the first week.
Thursday the 16th is a write-off. Onshore winds and choppy, poor conditions. Don’t bother.
Then we get a sweet little run from Friday the 17th through Sunday the 19th. Friday morning and afternoon both have 5ft to 5ft swell from the west, 14-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is still strong at around 1400-1678. This is clean, fun, intermediate-friendly surf. Saturday the 18th keeps it going with similar size and glassy winds, and the period jumps to 18 seconds on Saturday afternoon – that’s very long period groundswell, which will wrap in nicely here at a breakwater. Sunday the 19th morning has a bit more breeze but still clean, and Sunday afternoon goes back to glassy conditions with a 5ft swell. Honestly, Friday through Sunday is the best sustained run of clean, quality waves.
Monday the 20th sees the swell drop to 4ft, and the energy dips to 614. It’s clean in the morning, but the afternoon gets a cross-shore breeze. Still surfable, but smaller.
From Tuesday the 21st onward, the swell drops off significantly. We’re looking at 2ft to 4ft for most of the second week. The conditions are often clean or glassy, but the energy is weak – under 500 most days. There’s a small bump on Sunday the 26th with 4ft swell and a 14-second period, giving us moderate energy around 615, and glassy conditions in the afternoon. That’s a nice little late-window option, but it’s not going to blow you away.
Overall, the standout is Wednesday the 15th morning for the big-wave hunters, and the Friday 17th through Sunday 19th stretch for clean, solid, fun surf. The second week is mostly small and marginal, so don’t plan a trip around it unless you’re happy with a longboard or a foiler.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | NW 8 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 15 | W 8 | WSW 9 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
482 | 796 | 5089 | 4745 | 3367 | 3236 | 2830 | 903 | 955 | 1077 | 951 | 1781 | 1325 | 1583 | 2437 | 1685 | 1281 | 834 | 596 | 471 | 350 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:23AM3.35m | 10:46PM3.47m | 11:16AM3.43m | 11:37PM3.54m | 12:06PM3.44m | 00:25AM3.54m | 12:53PM3.38m | 1:12AM3.45m | 1:39PM3.26m | 1:58AM3.31m | 2:24PM3.11m | 2:46AM3.13m | 3:10PM2.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:35PM0.64m | 5:00AM0.50m | 5:26PM0.57m | 5:51AM0.46m | 6:14PM0.56m | 6:40AM0.50m | 7:00PM0.61m | 7:28AM0.60m | 7:45PM0.72m | 8:15AM0.75m | 8:31PM0.88m | 9:02AM0.94m | 9:20PM1.06m | ||||||||
8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | 4 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | W 13 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | — | W 15 | WSW 14 | W 9 | W 9 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 |
482 | 330 | 5089 | 4745 | 3367 | 3236 | — | 522 | 613 | 601 | 476 | 1781 | 1325 | 1583 | 2437 | 1685 | 1281 | 834 | 596 | 471 | 350 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | W 18 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 14 | W 14 | — | W 22 | W 7 | — | — | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 |
244 | 162 | 109 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1077 | 951 | — | 36 | 147 | — | — | 19 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 10 |
72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 8 | — | — | NNW 5 | — | W 15 | W 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 796 | — | — | 78 | — | 2830 | 903 | 955 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 214 | 48 | 169 | 177 | 180 | 153 | 190 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 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.










