
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,694 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 13th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the cards at Chinamans, but this one’s for the advanced crew only – it’s a reef setup and it’s about to pump. The water’s sitting at 60°F which is bang on average for this time of year, nothing wild there.
The week kicks off Monday the 13th with some serious energy in the water – the combined swell energy is reading hefty numbers (6588), with an 12ft SW groundswell rolling in at 16 seconds. That’s proper size for a reef, and while the wind’s a fresh cross-off at 22 mph from the west, it’s gonna be clean but pushy. Tuesday the 14th drops a little in size to 10ft but the wind swings cross-on, making it choppy – might be one to sit out.
Wednesday the 15th is where it gets tasty. The swell backs off to 7ft from the SW, still a long 15-second period, and the wind goes glassy – 3 mph from the north in the morning, then dead calm in the arvo. That’s about as clean as it gets for an advanced reef wave. Not huge, but the paddle-out will be easier with those long gaps between sets. Energy’s still strong at 1941.
Thursday the 16th keeps the quality up: 6ft to 7ft SW groundswell, 15 to 16 seconds, and light offshore breezes all day – clean as a whistle. Friday the 17th stays clean but the size drops a touch to 5ft to 6ft, still cross-off winds. That stretch from Wednesday through Friday is the standout window – solid, clean, and manageable.
Saturday the 18th sees the swell shrink to 4ft with offshore northerlies at 12 mph, but the energy’s dropped off to low-moderate (419). It’ll be fun but small. Sunday the 19th gets a weird spike in period – 20 seconds on a 2ft swell – that’s a very long-period, low-energy groundswell (466). It’ll be super clean with offshore winds but only just breaking on the reef.
Monday the 20th brings a fresh pulse: 6ft SW groundswell at 15 seconds, offshore northerlies at 19 mph – that’s clean and punchy with moderate energy (1522). Good for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 21st drops back to 4ft to 5ft, still clean but lower energy (732). Wednesday and Thursday the 22nd–23rd get messy – strong winds and rain, with some poor conditions. Not worth paddling out.
But then – hold onto your board – Friday the 24th lights up. An 8ft SW groundswell at 17 seconds rolls in, with offshore northwesterlies at 12 mph. The energy’s cranked right up to 3639, and conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a standout day, but Saturday the 25th gets wild: 8ft to 8ft with a near gale offshore at 28–34 mph – that’s clean but gnarly to paddle into, only for the hardcore.
Sunday the 26th sees the swell jump to 10ft but the wind goes cross and the chop comes in, not great. Monday the 27th holds 10ft with fresh offshore breezes at 19–22 mph – still big and clean but you’ll earn every wave. Tuesday the 28th winds down with 7ft dropping to 5ft later, clean but fading.
Overall, the real standouts are Wednesday the 15th through Friday the 17th for the cleanest combo of size and glassy conditions, and then Friday the 24th for a bigger, more powerful session. If you’re not advanced, give Chinamans a miss – over 5ft on a reef is no joke, and when it hits 8ft+ you’re in expert-only territory. Crowds can be around at times, so keep an eye out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon morning, calm by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
6029 | 5928 | 6694 | 5169 | 3876 | 2697 | 1941 | 1624 | 1290 | 1421 | 2078 | 1783 | 1675 | 1169 | 821 | 404 | 386 | 331 | 239 | 1007 | 1456 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:06PM1.16m | 1:50AM0.30m | 1:51PM1.21m | 2:20AM0.37m | 2:32PM1.22m | 2:54AM0.45m | 3:09PM1.19m | 3:30AM0.53m | 3:42PM1.12m | 4:06AM0.61m | 4:11PM1.02m | 4:45AM0.67m | 4:36PM0.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:29PM0.18m | 5:42AM0.21m | 9:42PM0.16m | 6:52AM0.17m | 10:00PM0.16m | 7:50AM0.15m | 10:20PM0.16m | 8:40AM0.16m | 10:39PM0.17m | 9:28AM0.20m | 10:57PM0.18m | 10:13AM0.27m | 11:14PM0.19m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
369 | — | 3301 | 2599 | 3876 | 2697 | 1941 | 1624 | 1290 | 1421 | 2078 | 1783 | 1675 | 1169 | 821 | 404 | 386 | 331 | 149 | 1007 | 1456 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 12 | WNW 7 |
190 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 24 | 15 | 8 | 18 | 239 | 95 | 41 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | SW 15 | WNW 5 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 78 | 4 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NW 7 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 |
6029 | 5928 | 6694 | 5169 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | 36 | 9 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 15 | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1034 | 1237 | 729 | 729 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 81 | 74 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










