Cobden Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Breakwater sea temperature is
12.3°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 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with 6,744 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 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 4.5m 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) 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 0.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 1st Sep)15ft (4.5m) 11s
Best Surf 9AM (Tue 1st Sep)15ft (4.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 31st Aug)13ft (4.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Cobden Breakwater. This is a proper rollercoaster of a forecast, with some solid size but plenty of wind and rain mixed in.

Right now, the water temp is around 54°F, which is pretty average for the season, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

The surf kicks off on Saturday, August 29th, but it’s a slow start. Saturday morning we’ve got a 4ft WSW swell, but it’s messy with a cross-on breeze. The wave energy is moderate (674), but the quality is lacking. Saturday afternoon drops right off. Sunday the 30th sees a big jump – 10ft in the morning, building to 13ft by the afternoon – but the wind is howling onshore, and conditions are poor. This is one of those days you just skip. Monday the 31st is more of the same: solid 13ft swell with rain and onshore winds. Not a good start to the week.

By Tuesday, September 1st, the swell is still huge at 15ft in the morning and 12ft in the afternoon. The wind is a bit better, but the forecast says this is too big for Cobden Breakwater. The energy is pumping (4790 in the morning), but this is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s going to be messy. The rest of the first week stays average – Wednesday and Thursday see the swell drop to 7ft-8ft, but the wind stays cross-on and the conditions are choppy. Nothing to write home about.

Now, here’s the one to circle. Saturday, September 5th morning is the standout of the entire 16-day run. We’ve got a solid 10ft swell from the W, with a long 14-second period, and the wind swings NNE at just 6 mph, giving us clean, cross-off conditions. The wave energy is strong (4180), and the conditions are described as clean. This is proper groundswell – long lines, plenty of push. The breakwater setup should handle the long period well. The catch? It’s over 8ft, so this is for experienced surfers only. The crowd factor is listed as "rare," so you might have it all to yourself. This is your best session of the whole stretch.

Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th hold similar size, but the wind turns onshore again Sunday. Monday morning the 7th of September is worth a look – glassy conditions with a 3 mph SE breeze and a 10ft W swell with a 16-second period. That’s very long-period groundswell. It will be clean and powerful, but again, it’s big. For experienced folks only.

The second week is a mixed bag. Tuesday the 8th has another 15ft pulse from the NW, but it’s too big for the spot, and while the wind is offshore, the size is just overwhelming. Wednesday the 9th is messy and huge. Thursday the 10th afternoon looks cleaner with a 6ft WNW swell and a cross-off breeze – a smaller, more manageable window for a relaxed paddle. Friday the 11th morning is clean with a 7ft NW swell, but the period is short (8 seconds), so it’s not going to have the same punch. Saturday the 12th morning is glassy but the swell is 12ft – too big again. Sunday the 13th closes out with a massive 18ft W swell, but that’s just too much for this break to handle cleanly.

So, the bottom line: circle Saturday, September 5th morning. Clean, powerful, and uncrowded. Monday the 7th morning could also be a gem if you’re skilled enough. The rest of the time, it’s either windy, rainy, or too big to be fun.

Stay sharp, and don’t force it if it’s not looking good.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat night, strong winds from the W by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NW by Wed night).

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
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
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
2
3
0
0
2
2
1
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)
1.3
WSW
9
0.6
W
20
0.8
W
18
3
W
8
4
W
9
5
W
11
4
W
14
4
W
14
5
W
11
4.5
W
11
3.5
W
11
1.8
W
13
2.1
W
13
2
W
14
3
WNW
8
2.3
W
10
1.7
W
11
1.8
W
13
3.5
W
8
4.5
W
10
4
W
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
254
276
399
1379
2975
5335
6744
5992
5676
4790
3130
1087
1537
1472
1081
958
694
1155
1763
4148
4763
Wind (km/h)
15
W
15
WSW
10
W
25
WSW
35
WSW
40
WSW
30
WSW
30
W
35
WSW
15
SW
15
WSW
15
SW
5
NW
25
WNW
30
WNW
15
WNW
15
WNW
20
WNW
20
WSW
30
WSW
5
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
11:23AM3.26m
11:35PM3.37m
11:57AM3.29m
00:09AM3.38m
12:31PM3.27m
00:45AM3.33m
1:07PM3.21m
1:25AM3.23m
1:48PM3.10m
2:10AM3.09m
2:36PM2.97m
3:07AM2.93m
3:37PM2.83m
Low Tide
5:29PM0.69m
5:47AM0.62m
6:02PM0.65m
6:22AM0.61m
6:36PM0.67m
6:59AM0.65m
7:15PM0.73m
7:40AM0.75m
7:58PM0.84m
8:26AM0.90m
8:50PM0.99m
9:22AM1.06m
9:58PM1.12m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:12
 mm
1
2
4
2
2
4
2
3
5
3
3
15
4
3
7
2
2
1
Temp °C
11
11
11
12
11
10
10
11
11
10
10
9
11
13
13
14
13
13
12
12
10
Feels °C
8
7
6
7
4
2
3
4
3
5
5
5
8
8
8
12
11
9
7
6
7
  • 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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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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