Kolbano surf

Kolbano

Intermediate
Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Timor now Oetune Fair · 1.3m @ 5s View →
Conditions right now
Fair
Wave
1.2m
Swell
1.0m
5s · SE
Period
5s
Wind
15 km/h
ENE · gust 34
Cross-shore
Water
26°C
Air
24°C

Surf report

Tide rising · High 10:00 AM 1.3m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 1.3 m
1.0m 5s SE
13 km/h cross
0.4m
9 AM 1.2 m
0.9m 5s SE
19 km/h cross
1.2m
12 PM 1.3 m
0.8m 5s SE
21 km/h on
0.9m
3 PM 1.3 m
0.7m 5s ESE
22 km/h on
-0.4m
6 PM 1.3 m
0.8m 4s SSE
18 km/h on
-0.7m
Best session today
6 AM–8 AM
Cross-shore 1.0m swell @ 5s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 0.8 1.5 7 AM10 AM1 PM4 PM7 PM10 PM1 AM4 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 30 60 7 AM10 AM1 PM4 PM7 PM10 PM1 AM4 AM

Tide

High 10:00 AM · 1.3m Low 5:00 PM · -0.8m High 11:00 PM · 0.9m Low 5:00 AM · -0.0m
H 10 AM L 5 PM H 11 PM L 5 AM H 11 AM L 5 PM H 12 AM L 5 AM 7 AM1 PM7 PM1 AM7 AM1 PM7 PM1 AM

7-day outlook

Best days
Tue, Jul 28
1.2–1.3m
Wed, Jul 29
1.0–1.3m
Thu, Jul 30
0.9–1.2m
Fri, Jul 31
0.9–1.0m
Sat, Aug 1
0.9–1.5m
Sun, Aug 2 Best
1.4–1.7m
Mon, Aug 3 Best
1.4–1.7m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
7 AM 1.2m 1.0m SE 5s 15 ENE cross 0.7m
8 AM 1.2m 1.0m SE 5s 17 ENE cross 1.0m
9 AM 1.2m 0.9m SE 5s 19 ENE cross 1.2m
10 AM 1.3m 0.9m SE 5s 19 E cross 1.3m
11 AM 1.3m 0.9m SE 5s 21 E on 1.2m
12 PM 1.3m 0.8m SE 5s 21 E on 0.9m
1 PM 1.3m 0.8m ESE 5s 21 E on 0.5m
2 PM 1.3m 0.7m ESE 5s 22 E on 0.0m
3 PM 1.3m 0.7m ESE 5s 22 E on -0.4m
4 PM 1.3m 0.8m SE 5s 19 E on -0.7m
5 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 5s 18 E on -0.8m
6 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 4s 18 E on -0.7m
7 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 4s 19 E cross -0.4m
8 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 4s 19 E cross 0.0m
9 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 4s 20 E cross 0.5m
10 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 4s 20 E cross 0.8m
11 PM 1.3m 0.8m SSE 5s 19 E cross 0.9m
12 AM 1.3m 0.9m SSE 5s 19 E cross 0.9m
1 AM 1.3m 0.9m SE 5s 18 E on 0.8m
2 AM 1.3m 0.9m SE 5s 16 E on 0.5m
3 AM 1.2m 1.0m SE 5s 15 E on 0.2m
4 AM 1.2m 1.0m SE 5s 15 E on -0.0m
5 AM 1.2m 1.0m SE 5s 16 E on -0.0m
6 AM 1.2m 1.0m SE 5s 16 E on 0.1m

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
this spot
1.2m
1.0m 5s
15 cross
Fair
Oetune Best now
40 km away
1.3m
1.1m 5s
5 cross
Fair
107 km away
0.6m
0.6m 4s
18 on
Poor–Fair
108 km away
1.0m
0.9m 5s
16 on
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.