Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.3°C
0.8° 

Chinamans surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Chinamans surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 6,848 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chinamans this week:

The surf forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 17s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 3.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 8th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 17s
Best Surf 9AM (Tue 8th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 17s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 9th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, g’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at the coming swell window for Chinamans. This is a sensitive, advanced-level reef break that only really works with a solid SW groundswell. The good news is, there’s some real energy coming, but we’ve got to be patient and pick the right windows.

Right off the bat, Monday the 7th is a write-off. We’ve got some chest-high 4ft swell from the SW, but the morning is onshore with a light breeze, and the afternoon gets a cross-onshore wind that’ll chop it all up. The water is sitting at 60°, which is a touch warmer than the long-term average for this time of year. Not a big deal, but a notable little spike.

Tuesday the 8th morning is where it starts to get interesting. It’s the first real standout of the outlook. We’ve got a 7ft SW groundswell at a long 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy – and the wind goes glassy offshore. The combined wave energy is a solid 2622 – that’s strong. You get that long period at a reef like Chinamans and the sets will be clean, throwing, and well-shaped. Best on offer for this first week, no question. The afternoon gets a bit messy as the wind swings cross with a stronger breeze, so make the most of the morning.

Wednesday the 9th is for experts only – 10ft to 12ft SW swell and a fresh onshore breeze makes it a washing machine. Not surfable.

Thursday the 10th drops to 8ft, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Still messy.

Friday the 11th backs off to around 6ft, and the morning has a cross-shore wind that leaves slight chop. Better than the prior two days, but still only marginal.

Saturday the 12th is the second standout. Morning has a 5ft SW groundswell with a cross-offshore breeze from the NNE, and the afternoon sees it drop to 5ft but the wind stays clean and cross-off. The combined energy is moderate at 1105, but the wind will have the face of that reef looking like glass. For a softer, cruisy session with clean lines, that afternoon is a gem.

Sunday the 13th into Monday the 14th sees the swell shrink to 4ft-5ft. The wind does go offshore and clean, but the swell is small and weak. The combined energy on the 13th afternoon is only 635 – minimal. Not much to get excited about unless you’re on a log.

Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th see a pulse back up to 8ft-7ft, but the wind is cross-onshore and bumpy. Combined energy ramps up to 2032 and 2729, so there’s push, but the wind will shred the surface. Frustrating.

Thursday the 17th afternoon delivers a surprise – a 3ft clean, offshore swell with the wind straight out of the north. The combined energy is only 602, but the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That little pulse with glassy wind will peel cleanly down the reef. Small, but perfect.

Now, for the second week, the big boys come calling. We get a full week gap of marginal or poor conditions from the 18th to the 21st of September. But hold onto your board – Saturday the 19th morning is a monster. 12ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period, combined energy reading 7347, and the wind is cross-offshore and clean. That is an expert-only, heavy, grinding reef setup. The afternoon stays clean with a 10ft, and the wind goes offshore at 6 mph. That is the best day of the whole outlook – for experienced surfers only.

Monday the 21st is the final standout. A 8ft SW groundswell with a ridiculous 22-second period – very long period groundswell. Combined energy is a massive 9146, so that’s a heavy, powerful, low-frequency swell. A light cross-onshore wind and a bit of rain might soften it up, but the energy in the water is staggering. Early morning that day could still offer some very thick, heavy sets before it gets too unruly on Tuesday.

Overall, if you’re experienced, hold out for Tuesday morning the 8th, then the stacked window of Saturday the 19th and Monday the 21st. That’s the cream of the crop. Crowds are sometimes a factor at this spot, so on those good mornings, you won’t be alone.

Stay salty,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSE by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Fri morning, fresh winds from the N by Sat night).

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
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
1
1
4
4
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
3
3
3
3
4
2
1
2
2
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
SW
13
1.3
SW
14
1.6
SW
19
2.1
SW
17
2.3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
3
SW
19
3.5
SW
18
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
16
1.8
SW
15
1.7
SW
15
1.8
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.4
SW
15
0.9
SW
17
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
537
595
1691
2622
2790
3039
6632
6545
4804
3499
2832
1460
1229
1552
1611
1105
871
505
746
635
572
Wind (km/h)
10
SE
15
ESE
20
E
5
SE
25
SW
40
SSE
35
SE
30
SE
25
ESE
20
ESE
20
E
20
ESE
15
ENE
10
ESE
15
ENE
20
NNE
15
NNE
25
NNE
40
N
25
NW
20
W
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
11:29AM0.78m
12:33PM0.85m
2:08AM0.36m
1:12PM0.89m
1:56AM0.47m
1:43PM0.90m
2:08AM0.60m
2:11PM0.87m
2:29AM0.72m
2:36PM0.82m
2:51AM0.82m
2:58PM0.75m
3:15AM0.88m
Low Tide
9:04PM0.10m
8:31PM0.11m
6:00AM0.26m
8:23PM0.10m
7:02AM0.17m
8:25PM0.08m
7:47AM0.09m
8:34PM0.06m
8:25AM0.05m
8:44PM0.04m
9:00AM0.04m
8:56PM0.02m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:09
6:09
6:10
 mm
Temp °C
13
13
11
11
12
12
13
12
10
11
13
11
14
15
16
17
19
21
20
21
16
Feels °C
11
10
7
10
7
5
6
5
4
7
9
6
12
12
13
13
15
16
13
16
14
  • 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 Chinamans Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Chinamans provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Chinamans can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Chinamans 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 (Chinamans) 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 Chinamans 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.

Are you planning a holiday in Yorke Peninsula? If you are looking for accommodation near Chinamans, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Yorke Peninsula, consider staying in Kingscote which is 80 km (50 miles) away.

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