Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.2°C
0.7° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 4,059 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s 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 (Aug 26) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 2.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Wed 26th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 9PM (Thu 27th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 18s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sun 30th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at the 16-day window for Chinamans. It’s a reef break, handles a SW swell, and is best for the advanced crew. The water temp is sitting at 59° with a small anomaly of 1°, so pretty average for this time of year.

The first few days are a write-off. That Tuesday, the 25th, has a strong cross-onshore wind ruining a solid 8ft SW swell from a deep 16-second period. The combined energy is massive at 4638 – plenty of power, but it’s all blown out and lumpy, so I’m not even looking at it.

Wednesday the 26th is where things start to clean up. The morning has a light offshore from the NNW and a steady 5ft SW swell at 13 seconds (877 energy). That’s a good, clean start. The afternoon stays clean with a 4ft SW swell and a light offshore breeze from the NW. Good, rideable waves.

Thursday the 27th is the real standout early in the run. The morning has a moderate offshore wind from the N, with 4ft SW swell and a 14-second period (910 energy), making for clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon is even better – that same wind stays offshore but gentler, with the swell bumped up to 5ft SW (1874 energy). That’s an excellent session for experienced surfers.

Friday the 28th keeps the swell running at 7ft SW with a 16-second groundswell (2537 energy) and a clean cross-offshore wind from the ENE. It’s a powerful, clean wave in the morning, but it’s pushing into the bigger range. The afternoon turns more cross-onshore, so the window is mainly the morning.

After that, there’s a few days of chop and messy conditions through the 29th and 30th, with cross-onshore winds and lumpy seas. The Sunday afternoon on the 30th does have a 8ft swell from the SW with a very long 19-second period (3752 energy), but the wind is a total mess.

Now, the next real highlight lands on Monday the 31st of August. The morning has a 7ft SW swell (2107 energy) with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. The afternoon is even better – that wind goes pure offshore from the NNW, and the swell holds at 6ft (1643 energy). That’s a beautiful window of clean, peeling reef waves.

The first week of September opens with a glassy gem. Friday the 4th of September afternoon is completely calm, with a 7ft SW swell (2009 energy). That’s a long way out, so it’s a tease, not a guarantee, but it looks unreal.

But the absolute stand-out of the entire 16 days is Saturday the 5th of September. Both the morning and afternoon are glassy calm, with zero wind. The morning hits a 8ft SW swell with a 17-second period (3866 energy) and the afternoon is an 8ft SW at 16 seconds (3544 energy). That’s big, powerful, groundswell energy with no wind. For a reef break like Chinamans, that’s as good as it gets – expect a proper crowd for this one, as it’s a fairly consistent spot. It’s not for beginners – that size is expert territory.

After that peak, the swell holds but the wind turns onshore from the 6th onwards through the 9th, bringing blown-out conditions and a lot of chop into the middle of September. So, the action is pretty much packed into the windows on the 27th, the 31st, and that massive glassy weekend on the 4th and 5th.

Stay sharp.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue morning, calm by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
3
3
2
3
4
5
4
3
2
1
2
0
1
3
3
4
4
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SW
16
2.3
SW
14
1.7
SW
14
1.6
SW
13
1.3
SW
13
0.7
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
2.3
SW
18
2.2
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1
SW
13
1
SW
20
2.3
SW
19
2.5
SW
17
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.7
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2832
2114
1139
827
591
209
623
1031
3122
2537
2087
1108
802
495
315
746
3752
3668
2107
1643
1279
Wind (km/h)
35
SSW
30
SSW
15
SSW
5
NNW
10
NW
15
NNE
25
N
15
N
10
NNE
10
ENE
5
E
15
E
15
ESE
10
SE
15
ESE
15
ESE
15
E
15
E
15
NNE
15
NNW
20
N
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
1:22PM0.86m
2:36AM0.40m
1:44PM0.90m
2:26AM0.46m
2:05PM0.93m
2:32AM0.53m
2:25PM0.93m
2:45AM0.61m
2:45PM0.90m
3:02AM0.70m
3:05PM0.85m
3:22AM0.78m
3:23PM0.77m
Low Tide
9:03PM0.14m
6:37AM0.29m
8:59PM0.13m
7:15AM0.22m
9:00PM0.11m
7:48AM0.16m
9:04PM0.10m
8:19AM0.12m
9:11PM0.08m
8:51AM0.09m
9:19PM0.07m
9:24AM0.09m
9:27PM0.05m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:47
6:45
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:59
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
Temp °C
13
13
13
13
12
13
14
17
17
17
17
16
16
17
14
13
14
13
14
16
18
Feels °C
6
7
10
11
10
9
9
14
14
15
15
13
13
14
10
10
10
9
10
13
13
  • 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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