Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.1° C
0.1° 

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 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, W swell with 3,046 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period with WNW 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 (Aug 13) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period. 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Thu 13th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Best Surf 6AM (Sat 15th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 16s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sat 15th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Cobden Breakwater’s got a bit of a mixed bag over the next sixteen days, but there’s a proper standout session if you’ve got the skill and the patience.

The real gem is Saturday morning, 15th August. We’re looking at a solid 8ft swell from the west, with a period of 16 seconds – that’s serious groundswell energy with long, clean lines. The wind is glassy, absolute perfection, so it’ll be smooth as silk. The combined swell energy is pumping at 2789 (moderate to strong energy), so this is excellent surf, but for experienced surfers only. Anything over 8ft would be expert-only, and this is right on the edge, so if you’re not confident, let the big boys have it.

Before that, we kick off on Thursday 13th with a 6ft swell from the WNW, combined energy of 730 (moderate). Light offshore wind in the morning keeps it clean, and the water temp anomaly is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The afternoon picks up a longer period of 11 seconds and energy rises to 869, with a light cross-off breeze. Good, clean waves for an intermediate surfer.

Friday 14th drops to a 3ft swell, but with a very long period of 15 seconds in the morning – combined energy 710. Light cross-off wind. Clean, but small. The afternoon sees 4ft with a 19-second period (very long!) and onshore wind, so quality drops.

Then comes our standout Saturday morning, then Saturday afternoon fades with onshore wind and a 8ft swell (strong energy at 2534), but it’s not as clean.

Sunday 16th holds 7ft from the west with a 15-second period in the morning – combined energy 2119 – and a moderate cross-off breeze. Clean for experienced crew. The afternoon stays solid at 7ft with 15-second period and clean wind again.

Monday 17th settles to 5ft from the west, 14-second period, light cross-off wind, clean.

Tuesday 18th is smaller at 5ft, but period drops to 9 seconds, so more short-period wind swell. Still clean in the morning.

From Wednesday 19th through Saturday 22nd, the swell hangs around 3ft to 4ft, with periods of 13 to 16 seconds – clean conditions most of the time, especially Friday afternoon and Saturday morning with glassy wind. Light, but fun for a log.

Then Sunday 23rd afternoon surprises us with 8ft from the west, but the period is only 8 seconds (short-period). Combined energy is 1020 (moderate). Cross-off wind from the north at 6 mph, so it’s clean. This one’s only for experts again due to the size and short-period punch.

Monday 24th sees 6ft to 8ft from the west, but wind is howling at 19 mph from the north, making it messy despite being cross-off. Combined energy is high (2344 in the morning), but the conditions are marginal.

The last week tails off with smaller, cleaner swells – Tuesday 25th has 5ft with good energy (697) and light cross-off wind, and Wednesday 26th morning has 5ft with 10-second period, clean. After that, the swell fades a bit more, but there’s a late pulse on Friday 28th with 7ft from the WNW, 8-second period, and clean conditions.

Cobden Breakwater is a breakwater setup, exposed to the WSW, and it's fairly consistent. It can get crowded sometimes, so keep an eye out. The optimum swell direction is WSW, and that matches most of the bigger swells here.

Overall, Saturday morning, 15th August is the standout. Get on it early if you’re advanced. The rest of the period offers clean waves for intermediates on the smaller days, but the big stuff needs respect.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun afternoon, min 3°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
3
3
3
4
4
3
2
2
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
NNW
9
1.7
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
11
1.6
WNW
10
0.8
WSW
15
1.2
WSW
19
2.1
W
17
2.4
W
16
2.3
W
15
2.4
W
16
2.2
W
15
2
W
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.5
W
14
1.4
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
9
1.3
WSW
9
1
W
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
901
565
634
502
284
1083
2580
2789
2534
2789
2119
1739
1402
938
799
308
360
289
522
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
10
ENE
5
NE
10
ESE
10
ESE
15
SW
5
SSE
5
SSE
5
WSW
20
ESE
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
ESE
10
E
5
W
10
ESE
10
ESE
10
WSW
10
E
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
High Tide
10:33PM3.44m
11:01AM3.37m
11:19PM3.51m
11:44AM3.39m
00:02AM3.49m
12:26PM3.33m
00:43AM3.40m
1:05PM3.23m
1:23AM3.24m
1:44PM3.08m
2:05AM3.05m
2:24PM2.92m
2:49AM2.87m
Low Tide
4:47AM0.45m
5:09PM0.50m
5:33AM0.40m
5:52PM0.47m
6:16AM0.43m
6:33PM0.52m
6:57AM0.54m
7:13PM0.64m
7:37AM0.70m
7:53PM0.81m
8:18AM0.89m
8:35PM1.00m
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:24
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
 mm
9
1
2
Temp °C
10
12
13
10
12
13
10
11
12
8
10
11
6
9
9
6
11
11
8
Feels °C
7
11
12
8
11
10
8
9
10
5
4
6
1
6
6
3
9
8
5
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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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