Kolbano surf

Kolbano

Intermediate
Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Timor now Raijua Reefs Epic · 1.4m @ 12s View →
Conditions right now
Fair
Wave
1.0m
Swell
0.6m
11s · SW
Period
11s
Wind
23 km/h
E · gust 57
Offshore
Water
28°C
Air
30°C

Surf report

Tide falling · Low 5:00 PM -1.0m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 0.9 m
0.7m 12s SW
11 km/h off
-0.4m
9 AM 0.9 m
0.7m 11s SW
20 km/h off
1.1m
12 PM 0.9 m
0.7m 12s SW
23 km/h off
1.5m
3 PM 1.0 m
0.6m 11s SW
23 km/h off
-0.3m
6 PM 1.0 m
0.7m 11s SW
18 km/h off
-0.8m
Best session today
12 PM–2 PM
Offshore 0.7m swell @ 12s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 0.8 1.5 2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM5 AM8 AM11 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 30 60 2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM5 AM8 AM11 AM

Tide

Low 5:00 PM · -1.0m High 11:00 PM · 1.6m Low 5:00 AM · -0.8m High 12:00 PM · 1.6m
L 5 PM H 11 PM L 5 AM H 12 PM L 6 PM H 12 AM L 6 AM H 12 PM 2 PM8 PM2 AM8 AM2 PM8 PM2 AM8 AM

7-day outlook

Best days
Fri, Sep 11 Best
0.9–1.1m
Sat, Sep 12
1.0–1.1m
Sun, Sep 13 Best
1.0–1.2m
Mon, Sep 14 Best
1.0–1.2m
Tue, Sep 15
1.0–1.0m
Wed, Sep 16
1.0–1.1m
Thu, Sep 17
1.0–1.1m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
2 PM 1.0m 0.6m SW 11s 23 E off 0.4m
3 PM 1.0m 0.6m SW 11s 23 ENE off -0.3m
4 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 11s 22 ENE off -0.8m
5 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 11s 20 ENE off -1.0m
6 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 11s 18 ENE off -0.8m
7 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 12s 16 ENE off -0.4m
8 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 12s 16 ENE off 0.2m
9 PM 1.1m 0.7m SW 12s 18 ENE off 0.8m
10 PM 1.1m 0.7m SW 12s 20 ENE off 1.4m
11 PM 1.1m 0.7m SW 12s 22 ENE off 1.6m
12 AM 1.1m 0.7m SW 12s 19 ENE off 1.6m
1 AM 1.1m 0.7m SW 12s 18 ENE off 1.3m
2 AM 1.1m 0.7m SW 11s 16 ENE off 0.7m
3 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 11s 11 NE off 0.0m
4 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 10 NE off -0.5m
5 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 12 NE off -0.8m
6 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 12 ENE off -0.8m
7 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 14 ENE off -0.5m
8 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 17 ENE off 0.1m
9 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 20 ENE off 0.7m
10 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 20 ENE off 1.3m
11 AM 1.0m 0.7m SW 10s 23 E off 1.6m
12 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 11s 23 E off 1.6m
1 PM 1.0m 0.7m SW 12s 24 E off 1.3m

About Kolbano

Kolbano is a rugged intermediate reef break on Timor's south coast, set against a dramatic landscape of coloured pebble beaches and open ocean. The wave offers fun, honest surf with enough power to satisfy without punishing the intermediate surfer. The wild, off-the-beaten-path feel of the area adds to the appeal for those willing to make the trip.

Local knowledge

Hazards

The reef is shallow at low tide with sharp, unforgiving coral and rocks — wipeouts can result in serious lacerations, so reef booties are strongly advised. A solid shore-dump over the pebble beach makes entry and exit awkward and can catch you off guard; the coloured stones are slippery and can roll underfoot. Open-ocean swells on Timor's exposed south coast generate powerful rips along the reef edge — know where the channels are before paddling out.

Getting there

Kolbano sits on Timor's remote south coast, roughly 2–3 hours by road southwest of Soe — a 4WD is essential as the tracks deteriorate badly in the wet season. Park near the distinctive coloured pebble beach, which serves as your landmark, and paddle out through the channel on the eastern side of the break to avoid the worst of the shore-dump. There are minimal facilities out here, so carry your own food, water and fuel; a small warung may occasionally operate near the beach but don't count on it.

Board

A versatile shortboard or a mid-length in the 6'6"–7'2" range covers most conditions here, handling the reef's punchy, honest swell with enough volume for the longer open-face sections. Step up to a tougher, thicker step-up if a solid south swell pushes through — this coast can jump in size quickly.

Localism

mellow — relaxed vibe.

Where to go now

Kolbano vs. nearby, live
Spot Surf Swell Wind Now
Kolbano Best now
this spot
1.0m
0.6m 11s
23 off
Fair
40 km away
1.0m
0.6m 12s
24 cross
Fair
107 km away
0.4m
0.3m 7s
19 cross
Poor–Fair
108 km away
0.7m
0.4m 7s
9 off
Poor–Fair

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Surfing in Timor

Full Timor surf guide →

Timor sits at the far southeastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), sharing the island with the independent nation of Timor-Leste. For surfers, it's the gritty, frontier alternative to Bali's polish — a place where you trade comfort and crowds for empty line-ups, raw landscapes and genuine exploration.

✈️Getting there

The gateway is Kupang's El Tari Airport (KOE), with regular domestic flights from Bali (Denpasar) — around 1.5 hours — and connections via Jakarta, Surabaya and Labuan Bajo. Some smaller carriers link Kupang to the outer islands.

🛵Getting around

On Timor itself, scooter and motorbike rental is the most flexible way to reach spots like Tablolong, Oetune and Kolbano — though Kolbano is a serious drive (several hours east of Kupang). Cars with a driver are widely available in Kupang and worth it for longer hauls or if you're hauling boards and gear.

🌤️Climate & season

Timor has one of the most pronounced dry seasons in Indonesia, sitting in a rain-shadowed, savanna-like corner of NTT. The dry season runs roughly May to October — and this is also prime surf time, when consistent southeast trade winds groom the swells and rainfall is minimal.