Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 10 Sep 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 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, W swell with onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, W swell with 7,848 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 2.3m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Thu 10th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 10s
Best Surf 9AM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 6AM (Thu 17th Sep)15ft (4.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Cobden Breakwater has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at about 55°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We've got a bit of a slow start, but things kick off on Thursday the 10th. The morning is a write-off with messy cross-on wind and only 3ft of weak-ish swell – not worth paddling out for. But come Thursday afternoon, the whole picture changes. The wind swings to a light cross-off breeze, and the swell jumps to a solid 8ft from the WSW. That's got moderate energy behind it (2180) and it's clean. For an intermediate surfer, this is a proper session.

The standout of the whole forecast, without a doubt, is Friday the 11th. Friday morning is where the magic happens. We're talking a 10ft groundswell from the west with an *18-second period*, and it's dead glassy – no wind at all. The energy reading is massive at 5320. This is a long-period groundswell, so it'll have real power and shape, but it'll also have longer lulls between sets, making the paddle out a bit easier. That said, at 10ft, this is expert territory. The afternoon holds at 8ft with the same glassy conditions and still pumping energy (4014). If you're an experienced surfer, this is the day to be out there.

A second standout to keep an eye on is Saturday the 20th of September. After a long run of poor conditions, we get a fresh pulse of west swell. The Sunday morning of the 20th offers a 10ft swell from the west with 14-second period, and the wind is offshore from the ENE. That's clean, powerful surf. It's on the bigger side, so again, for the experienced crew. The afternoon keeps the offshore flow and drops to a more manageable 8ft.

Now, for the rest of it – there's a big gap of poor conditions from late Saturday the 12th right through the end of that week. Saturday morning the 12th is huge, with a 13ft west swell, but the onshore wind ruins it. Sunday the 13th through to Saturday the 19th is mostly blown out or too big with onshore wind. The energy numbers are still high during that week, but the wind direction just kills the quality for paddle surfing. If you're into kite surfing, those big, choppy days with strong wind might look interesting, but for a surfboard, it's a hard pass.

From the 21st through the end of the outlook, the swell drops right off. We're looking at 3ft to 3ft waves with weak energy (under 600). The winds are light or offshore, so it will be clean and pretty, but there's just not enough push for a proper wave.

Bottom line: Your window for good surf is narrow. Thursday afternoon the 10th is a good warm-up. Friday the 11th is the absolute pinnacle – glassy, powerful, expert-level west swell. For something further out, Sunday the 20th has offshore winds and solid size, so mark that on the calendar, but it's a long-range call so don't hold your breath. The rest is either too big and blown out, or too small to bother with.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu morning, min 4°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue afternoon).

Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
5
6
5
0
!
!
0
3
1
4
4
2
3
3
0
0
1
0
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
WSW
13
2.4
WSW
9
1.9
WSW
19
3
W
18
2.5
W
17
3.5
W
16
4
W
16
3.5
W
16
1.9
WSW
16
1.6
W
16
1.4
WSW
16
1.5
W
16
1.9
WSW
15
1.7
W
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.4
WNW
14
2.4
W
8
3
W
10
2.5
W
10
3.5
W
14
4
W
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
361
919
2669
5320
4014
6584
6972
6686
1916
1347
1003
1102
1576
1229
834
822
670
1725
1307
4737
6662
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
5
SE
10
ESE
5
ESE
5
W
25
SW
15
WSW
20
SW
20
W
10
SW
15
WSW
5
NE
5
S
10
WSW
5
SE
10
NNE
25
NNW
25
SW
20
WSW
20
WSW
20
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
on
on
on
on
on
on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
on
High Tide
9:56AM3.21m
10:14PM3.38m
10:38AM3.29m
10:56PM3.42m
11:18AM3.31m
11:35PM3.38m
11:55AM3.27m
00:12AM3.28m
12:30PM3.18m
00:49AM3.14m
1:06PM3.06m
1:27AM2.98m
1:42PM2.91m
2:08AM2.81m
Low Tide
4:05PM0.58m
4:28AM0.46m
4:46PM0.49m
5:08AM0.43m
5:25PM0.47m
5:47AM0.47m
6:03PM0.53m
6:24AM0.57m
6:39PM0.64m
7:00AM0.71m
7:16PM0.80m
7:37AM0.89m
7:55PM0.97m
rain showers
part cloud
clear
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part cloud
rain showers
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
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thunderstorm
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:17
6:19
6:20
6:21
6:22
6:22
6:24
 mm
7
1
5
2
1
7
23
3
3
4
Temp °C
10
9
6
8
10
9
10
10
10
12
12
10
12
12
10
12
13
13
10
10
10
Feels °C
6
6
2
6
8
5
5
5
5
9
8
9
9
9
9
8
8
8
5
5
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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