Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Issued: 11 pm 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
13.8° C

1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, WSW swell with 1,976 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 2.1m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Tue 7th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Best Surf 3AM (Thu 9th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 15s
Most Powerful 3AM (Thu 9th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 15s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. Alright, lookin’ at the next few weeks for Cobden Breakwater. There’s nothin’ on offer right at the start, but don’t stress – we’ve got a decent run of swell rollin' in from the 8th of July.

The first real surfable day comes Wednesday, the 8th. Heads up, Wednesday morning brings some clean 2.9ft swell from the WSW, but it’s small and weak with only 321 combined swell energy. It's enough to get wet, but don’t expect anything special. Wednesday afternoon kicks it up a notch – 4.6ft from the WSW, cross-off wind, combined energy 643. The wind is lookin’ clean but the 11-second period keeps it a little more playful than powerful.

Now, the standout in the first week is Thursday the 9th. Clean, clear morning with a clean 5.6ft WSW swell and a solid 14-second period out of a deep 1290 combined energy. This is a good, proper swell. You’ll need a bit of experience for this size – it’s borderline for beginners – but the cross-off wind and that long period will set up some beautiful, walling lines. Thursday afternoon drops a touch but is still real clean at 4.9ft. Best of the week right there.

The weekend is quieter but smooth. Friday the 10th kicks off with a 4.3ft groundswell – 16-second period – and by arvo the wind goes glassy with a 5 km/h southeasterly puff. 3.6ft, glassy, long-period WSW swell – that’s a funboard or longboard dream right there for a late arvo session. Saturday the 11th is even glassier: clear, zero wind, 3.9ft and a 16-second window. Combined energy is 838 – moderate, but that clean surface will make it feel twice as good.

Sunday the 12th keeps the run alive. Offshore wind early with 3.6ft WSW swell and 15-second period over 574 combined energy. That’s a teasing, consistent weekend setup.

Then we get a little lull Monday 13th with 2.6ft and only 263 combined energy, but Tuesday the 14th sees a pulse. Morning brings 6.2ft from the west – 1805 combined energy – but it’s under light rain and cross-off. It’s clean, but that size starts to push it from intermediate into more serious territory. Afternoon on Tuesday the 14th jumps to 9.8ft from the W – 3549 energy – but it’s cross-onshore with a chop. That’s a beast that’s better suited for the experienced crew and won’t be a beauty.

Wednesday the 15th stays big – 9.8ft W swell at 16 seconds – but with onshore and cross-onshore wind. Big, messy, and not much for us – kite crew might get a laugh.

Thursday the 16th it gets too big for the break: 13.1ft in the morning and 14.8ft in the arvo. Wind’s clean but that’s expert-only stuff, and even then it’s teetering on too much. Combined energy hits 4736 and 9754 – proper strong. Only the real gurus should even look at it.

Friday the 17th is still pumping – 11.5ft – but that afternoon clean-up to 9.8ft with a cross-off from the SE and 10 km/h winds is a much better proposition. 2204 combined energy, 12-second period. For the charge crew, that afternoon on Friday the 17th is your window.

Saturday the 18th brings relief: 5.2ft and 3.6ft, glassy by arvo with a 10-second period. Combined energy drops to 562 and then 416. Clean, easy, fun – back to everyone’s size.

We then fade into the 19th and 20th. Sunday the 19th is real small – 1.6ft – but glassy as. Nothin’ to write home about. Monday the 20th, however, is a hidden gem: 5.2ft, possible 18-second groundswell in the morning, then a solid 5.2ft arvo pulse from the W at 12 seconds. That Monday arvo – combined energy 1314 – and glass-offshore wind with near-calm air – you’ll be kickin’ yourself if you miss that.

Into the third week, 21st of July Tuesday, we see another push: 9.8ft from the NW at 11 seconds, cross-off and offshore, combined energy over 2700. That’s expert territory again, and while the standouts are there, it’s getting a bit raw.

Wednesday the 22nd tops it all – 9.8ft NNW swell, 12-second period, combined energy 3165, clean cross-off. That is hands-down the best on offer in the whole outlook for the strong surfers. Big, clean, powerful, and lined up. That morning on the 22nd is the big-hitter winner.

Water temp is about average for this time of year; nothing crazy.

So, bottom line: the best windows for the average punter are Thursday the 9th morning, Saturday the 11th glassy arvo, and Monday the 20th arvo. For the big-wave crew

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Mon
13
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
1
2
2
1
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
WSW
15
1.3
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
11
2.1
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
16
0.9
WSW
15
1.1
WSW
17
1.2
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
15
1
WSW
15
0.8
WSW
15
0.8
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1703
724
425
249
250
469
1474
1143
874
549
793
628
376
754
768
758
574
468
284
261
431
Wind (km/h)
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SE
15
SE
10
ESE
25
ESE
10
SSE
15
SE
15
SE
15
ESE
15
ESE
5
SE
15
ESE
10
E
0
NE
10
E
10
E
5
NNE
10
E
10
ENE
15
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
3:08AM2.97m
3:38PM2.85m
4:01AM2.91m
4:35PM2.81m
5:03AM2.88m
5:39PM2.81m
6:09AM2.91m
6:47PM2.87m
7:17AM2.98m
7:53PM2.99m
8:22AM3.10m
8:55PM3.16m
9:25AM3.23m
Low Tide
9:28AM0.99m
9:49PM1.07m
10:21AM1.01m
10:48PM1.10m
11:22AM1.03m
11:53PM1.09m
12:27PM1.03m
1:01AM1.02m
1:35PM0.97m
2:08AM0.90m
2:41PM0.88m
3:10AM0.75m
3:41PM0.76m
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:03
8:03
8:03
8:03
8:02
8:02
8:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
5:17
5:19
5:20
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
8
9
11
7
12
12
9
11
11
6
8
10
5
8
10
7
9
10
8
11
13
Feels °C
4
5
7
3
8
6
5
7
6
1
4
7
0
5
8
3
6
8
5
9
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
WSW
15
1.3
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
11
2.1
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
16
0.9
WSW
15
1.1
WSW
17
1.2
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
15
1
WSW
15
0.8
WSW
15
0.8
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
13
Energy kJ
1703
724
425
249
250
469
1474
1143
874
549
793
628
376
754
768
758
574
468
284
261
431
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
9
0.3
NNE
8
0.3
NNE
9
0.3
NNE
8
0.3
WSW
19
0.5
WSW
18
0.5
W
16
0.4
WSW
21
0.7
WSW
19
0.9
WSW
18
0.4
WSW
19
0.3
W
20
0.1
N
12
0.2
NNW
5
0.1
W
23
Energy kJ
6
14
16
12
71
174
135
147
387
516
125
70
3
2
10
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
21
0.2
N
7
0.1
N
7
0.1
W
23
Energy kJ
9
4
1
11
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
4
0.4
SSE
3
0.3
ESE
2
0.3
ESE
3
0.4
NNE
4
0.4
NNE
4
0.4
NNE
4
0.5
N
5
Energy kJ
16
4
1
1
6
6
6
11
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
0
48
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
3
3
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
6
6
5
8
6
5
5
5
9
9
7
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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How to use the Wavefinder 

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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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