
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 5,961 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 17s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Chinamans. It’s a reef break that only works for advanced surfers – not a place for learners – and it fires on a solid SW groundswell. It’s fairly consistent, but when it’s good, it’s a gem.
Water temp is around 60°F, right on average for this time of year – no weird anomalies, just normal winter chill.
We’ve got a slow start. Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th are pretty average – small, choppy, cross-shore breezes, not worth gettin’ wet. Wednesday the 8th starts to show some promise. Wednesday morning has a 2.4m (8 ft) SW swell with an 18-second period – proper groundswell, heaps of energy (3483). Wind’s a gentle cross-off from the NE, so it’s clean. That’s decent but it’s on the bigger side for the average bloke. Keep in mind, crowds can pop up here sometimes.
The real standout windows are Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th. Thursday afternoon: 1.1m (4 ft) of long-period SW groundswell (18 sec), clean cross-off from the N, moderate energy (1276). That’s a beauty – clean, reeling lines for the experienced surfer.
But Friday the 10th is the one to circle. Morning and arvo both have offshore NNW winds at 25 km/h (16 mph), keeping the face smooth. Swell’s 1.8m and 1.6m (6 ft and 5 ft) from the SW, period around 15 seconds – a proper groundswell. Energy is moderate to strong (1474 and 1062). Offshore wind, SW groundswell, clean conditions – that’s Chinamans at its best.
Saturday the 11th gets wild – strong WNW winds hit 40-55 km/h (25-34 mph), and the swell jumps to 3.0m (10 ft) with a short, messy 8-second period. That’s kite-surfing territory. Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th stay big – 3.5m to 4.0m (12 to 13 ft) – but the winds are howlin’ from the west, creating chaos. Too big, too blown. Tuesday the 14th still has solid 2.3m (8 ft) SW swell but it’s cross-shore and messy.
Wednesday the 15th looks rough – cross-onshore SSW winds and choppy conditions.
Now here’s the next true standout: Thursday the 16th. Morning has 2.5m (8 ft) SW swell with a 16-second period – strong energy (3622) – and a light cross-shore from the ENE. But the afternoon is the gem: 2.4m (8 ft) SW groundswell (15 sec) with glassy conditions – 0 mph wind. Dead calm. That’s a gift. Energy is strong (2655). For the experienced surfer, that’s the session.
Friday the 17th offers clean offshore N winds at 25 km/h (16 mph) with 1.5m (5 ft) SW swell – good option. Saturday the 18th has strong offshore NNW winds at 40 km/h (25 mph) – clean but a mission to paddle out. After that, Sunday the 19th onward gets ugly – big winds, onshore, lumpy, blown out. Stay home.
To wrap it up: Friday the 10th is the pick – offshore, clean, solid SW groundswell with proper period. If you miss that, Thursday the 16th afternoon with glassy conditions is a close second. The second week goes to crap after that.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu afternoon, near gales from the W by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
857 | 463 | 284 | 886 | 1055 | 1112 | 3483 | 2355 | 1532 | 757 | 686 | 1654 | 1474 | 1062 | 736 | 447 | 1123 | 2648 | 4946 | 5957 | 5792 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:48PM0.86m | 5:55AM0.65m | 5:03PM0.75m | 6:51AM0.71m | 5:04PM0.64m | 8:06AM0.78m | 9:43AM0.87m | 11:10AM0.97m | 12:14PM1.07m | 1:22AM0.26m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:15AM0.36m | 11:42PM0.26m | 11:07AM0.44m | 11:54PM0.26m | 12:23PM0.52m | 00:07AM0.25m | 00:21AM0.23m | 00:38AM0.23m | 1:01AM0.23m | 9:31PM0.21m | |||||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — |
857 | 463 | 284 | 886 | 1055 | 1112 | 3483 | 2355 | 1532 | 757 | 590 | 1654 | 1474 | 1062 | 736 | 447 | 197 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | SW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 249 | — | — | 668 | — | — | — | 129 | 686 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 476 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | E 3 | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 16 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | 24 | 50 | 171 | 1123 | 2648 | 4946 | 5957 | 5792 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 727 | 1040 | 968 | 1034 | 1186 | 745 |
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.










