Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 10 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.5° C
0.0° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,882 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 10th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Tue 14th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 6AM (Tue 14th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 17s

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


Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's break down the next couple of weeks for you.

The water is sitting right around 60°F, which is pretty much average for the time of year, no big surprises there.

The action starts Friday morning, July 10th, at Chinamans. This is a reef break for the experienced crew only, and it's looking prime. We've got a 5ft long-period groundswell from the SW, with a period of 15 seconds. That's real juice. The wind is offshore from the NNW at 12 mph, keeping it glassy. The combined energy is a solid 1232, so there's plenty of power. The swell is over 5ft, so it's a bit too much for beginners, but for the advanced surfer, this is a standout. You might run into a few others out there, so keep your head on a swivel.

The afternoon holds similar, dropping a touch to 5ft, still with that offshore wind. This is the best of the first week, no question.

Saturday, July 11th, is a total washout. The wind swings onshore and howls, with a messy 10ft cross-shore slop. Don't bother. Sunday and Monday look a bit better, but the wind is still fresh and cross-off, holding the swell around 10ft. That's expert-only territory, and the combined energy is massive (over 3000), but the wind is just not clean enough to call it a classic. The 16-second period on Monday is a proper groundswell, but at a reef break, it might be a bit too straight. It's a "watch and see" day.

Tuesday, July 14th, gets ugly again with a cross-onshore wind, but Wednesday, July 15th, brings a real treat. The swell drops to a more manageable 7ft from the SW, with a 15-second period, and the wind goes light and offshore from the NE at 6 mph. The combined energy is still a solid 3172, and the conditions are clean. This is the second standout. Expect long lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will be beautiful. It's a day for the experienced surfer.

The rest of that week into the second week is a mixed bag. Thursday, July 16th, offers a smaller 5ft swell with a clean offshore wind in the afternoon, and Friday, July 17th, has a nice 6ft swell with a 16-second period and offshore wind in the morning. The energy is there (1532), but the wind is a bit stronger. It's still good, but not as standout as the earlier days.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. July 18th and 19th see the swell drop way down, with strong, clean offshore winds that make it hard to paddle into. The energy is low (414 and 308). It's not a time for big waves, but it's clean. The real gap starts on July 20th, when the wind turns cross-shore and strong, blowing out a messy 8ft to 10ft swell. That run of poor conditions lasts through to July 22nd, with cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy seas. That's a solid three-day stretch of no-go.

Things start to turn around on July 23rd, but the swell is small (4ft to 5ft) and the wind is still a bit cross. It's marginal. The final Friday and Saturday, July 24th and 25th, see the wind going offshore again, but the swell is small and the wind is strong, making it hard to get into the waves. The energy is low (around 561 to 878). It's a clean but frustrating end to the outlook.

So, to sum it up: the absolute best on offer is Friday morning, July 10th, and Wednesday morning, July 15th at Chinamans. Get on it while the wind is kind.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Fri morning, near gales from the WSW by Sat afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue night).

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
0
0
0
3
2
2
4
2
6
0
4
4
5
3
4
3
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)
1.6
SW
15
1.5
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
3
WSW
8
3.5
SW
11
3.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
3
SW
14
3
SW
16
3
SW
15
3.5
SW
17
3.5
SW
16
3
SW
16
2.4
SW
16
2.2
SW
15
1.9
SW
15
1.8
SW
14
1.5
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.8
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1232
949
668
1046
2860
3533
3041
2677
3013
4629
4711
6433
6124
4136
2732
2208
1654
1290
874
706
1750
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
25
NNW
35
NW
50
WSW
55
WSW
45
WSW
35
WSW
35
W
40
WNW
35
W
35
W
30
WSW
25
SW
10
SW
5
E
10
NE
5
ENE
15
NE
20
NNE
15
N
20
NNE
Wind State
off
off
off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
9:43AM0.87m
11:10AM0.97m
12:14PM1.07m
1:22AM0.26m
1:06PM1.16m
1:50AM0.30m
1:51PM1.21m
2:20AM0.37m
2:32PM1.22m
2:54AM0.45m
3:09PM1.19m
3:30AM0.53m
Low Tide
00:38AM0.23m
1:01AM0.23m
9:31PM0.21m
3:57AM0.24m
9:29PM0.18m
5:42AM0.21m
9:42PM0.16m
6:52AM0.17m
10:00PM0.16m
7:50AM0.15m
10:20PM0.16m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:30
7:30
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
 mm
2
3
1
4
2
1
3
2
1
Temp °C
14
15
14
13
12
14
15
14
15
15
15
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
13
13
14
Feels °C
10
10
8
2
0
5
8
7
8
8
8
8
9
12
14
13
13
12
9
10
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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