Kolbano surf

Kolbano

Intermediate
Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Timor now Savu Island Reefs Good · 0.9m @ 11s View →
Conditions right now
Fair
Wave
0.8m
Swell
0.5m
11s · SW
Period
11s
Wind
14 km/h
ENE · gust 30
Offshore
Water
28°C
Air
25°C

Surf report

Tide rising · High 6:00 AM 1.2m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 0.9 m
0.5m 10s SW
16 km/h off
1.2m
9 AM 0.9 m
0.5m 9s SW
15 km/h off
0.6m
12 PM 1.0 m
0.5m 10s SW
19 km/h off
0.0m
3 PM 1.1 m
0.5m 10s SW
25 km/h off
0.4m
6 PM 1.1 m
0.6m 8s S
20 km/h off
0.8m
Best session today
6 AM–8 AM
Offshore 0.5m swell @ 10s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 0.8 1.5 5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 30 60 5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM

Tide

High 6:00 AM · 1.2m Low 12:00 PM · 0.0m High 6:00 PM · 0.8m Low 12:00 AM · 0.0m
H 6 AM L 12 PM H 6 PM L 12 AM H 7 AM L 2 PM H 8 PM L 1 AM 5 AM11 AM5 PM11 PM5 AM11 AM5 PM11 PM

7-day outlook

Best days
Wed, Jun 10
0.8–1.1m
Thu, Jun 11
1.1–1.4m
Fri, Jun 12 Best
1.3–1.4m
Sat, Jun 13
1.1–1.3m
Sun, Jun 14
1.0–1.2m
Mon, Jun 15
1.0–1.2m
Tue, Jun 16
1.1–1.1m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
5 AM 0.8m 0.5m SW 11s 14 ENE off 1.2m
6 AM 0.9m 0.5m SW 10s 16 ENE off 1.2m
7 AM 0.9m 0.5m SW 10s 13 ENE off 1.1m
8 AM 0.9m 0.6m SW 9s 13 ENE off 0.9m
9 AM 0.9m 0.5m SW 9s 15 ENE off 0.6m
10 AM 0.9m 0.5m SW 9s 20 E off 0.4m
11 AM 1.0m 0.5m SW 9s 20 E off 0.1m
12 PM 1.0m 0.5m SW 10s 19 ENE off 0.0m
1 PM 1.0m 0.5m SW 10s 24 ENE off 0.0m
2 PM 1.1m 0.5m SW 10s 25 ENE off 0.2m
3 PM 1.1m 0.5m SW 10s 25 ENE off 0.4m
4 PM 1.1m 0.5m SW 10s 21 ENE off 0.6m
5 PM 1.1m 0.6m SW 9s 21 ENE off 0.7m
6 PM 1.1m 0.6m S 8s 20 ENE cross 0.8m
7 PM 1.1m 0.7m SE 6s 17 ENE cross 0.8m
8 PM 1.1m 0.7m E 5s 18 ENE on 0.7m
9 PM 1.1m 0.8m E 4s 19 ENE on 0.5m
10 PM 1.1m 0.9m E 5s 17 ENE on 0.3m
11 PM 1.1m 0.9m E 5s 14 ENE on 0.1m
12 AM 1.1m 1.0m E 5s 21 ENE on 0.0m
1 AM 1.2m 1.0m ESE 5s 21 ENE on 0.1m
2 AM 1.2m 1.0m ESE 5s 19 NE on 0.3m
3 AM 1.2m 1.0m ESE 5s 19 NE on 0.6m
4 AM 1.3m 1.0m ESE 5s 18 NE on 0.9m

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
0.8m
0.5m 11s
14 off
Fair
Oetune Best now
40 km away
0.8m
0.5m 11s
5 off
Good
107 km away
0.4m
0.3m 7s
18 off
Poor–Fair
108 km away
0.6m
0.4m 6s
14 on
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.