Best time to surf Greymouth – Cobden

The best time to surf at Greymouth – Cobden is July, September, with waves of about 1.7 m and water around 13°C.

Greymouth, West Coast, New Zealand

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: July, September

Cobden is the suburb of Greymouth on the north side of the Grey River, and its long sandy beach runs north from the river's breakwater. Greymouth is the largest town on the South Island's West Coast, with shops, accommodation, the region's main hospital and the end of the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch, so the beach is easy to reach. Parking is along the breakwater road.

The beach is an exposed beach break facing west into the Tasman Sea, with groundswell and wind swell in equal measure. The best peak is next to the rock breakwater at the south end, and it holds big swells. It is usually best in a west to west-south-west swell with an easterly wind, which blows offshore, and works on all tides. Further up the beach the peaks are smaller and suit learners on small days. Wavetraps, a small beach just inside the river mouth, has a short, fast and hollow right on its day, best from low to mid tide.

Rips run along the beach and by the breakwater; don't jump off the breakwater, and leave Wavetraps to experienced surfers on bigger days, when its rips get dangerous. After heavy rain the river brings dirty water and logs. The water is about 12 °C in August and 19 °C in February: a 5/4 with boots in winter, a 4/3 or 3/2 in summer.

Month by month at Greymouth – Cobden

January: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 19°C, air 21°C (nights 13°C), 27 sunny days, 15 rainy days
February: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 19°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 23 sunny days, 12 rainy days
March: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 18°C, air 19°C (nights 12°C), 25 sunny days, 15 rainy days
April: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 16°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), 20 sunny days, 16 rainy days
May: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 8°C), 18 sunny days, 17 rainy days
June: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 14°C, air 13°C (nights 6°C), 16 sunny days, 17 rainy days
July: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 13°C, air 12°C (nights 5°C), 17 sunny days, 17 rainy days
August: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 12°C, air 13°C (nights 5°C), 21 sunny days, 16 rainy days
September: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 13°C, air 14°C (nights 7°C), 21 sunny days, 22 rainy days
October: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 14°C, air 15°C (nights 8°C), 23 sunny days, 21 rainy days
November: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1 m, water 15°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), 21 sunny days, 18 rainy days
December: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 17°C, air 19°C (nights 12°C), 25 sunny days, 21 rainy days