
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,756 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 16s 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya live from the surf seat, and we're talkin' about one spot – Chinamans. It’s a technical reef, advanced-level only, and over the next two weeks, it's got some serious potential, but we gotta pick our windows with a sharp eye.
Right out of the gate, we’re dealing with a rough start. A solid, long-period 8ft SW groundswell (3309 combined energy) is pumping in on Thursday the 10th, but a brutal ESE cross-on wind has it all chopped up and blown out. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Friday the 11th is still messy with that cross-on, though a bit smaller. We’re in a waiting pattern.
The first real flicker of hope hits Saturday the 12th. The swell drops back to a manageable 5ft to 6ft from the SW, but the wind swings around to a gentle cross-offshore from the NNE. The afternoon session cleans right up with 1265 combined energy of that lovely groundswell coming in at a 16-second period. It’s not massive, but it’s clean and lined up. That morning is clean too, just a tad bigger. This is when the wait pays off.
Sunday the 13th afternoon is a standout. A 4ft SW swell meets a solid offshore from the NNW. Clean as a whistle, with that reef handling the long-period (16s) energy beautifully. The crowds are *sometimes* an issue at Chinamans, but on a Sunday afternoon with this size? It’ll be worth the paddle out.
We hit a flat spell after that – Monday the 14th drops to under 3ft and the wind goes haywire, turning into a lumpy, fresh cross-shore mess by the afternoon. Tuesday the 15th sees a spike back up to 8ft, but it’s marred by onshore and cross-onshore winds. That pattern of decent groundswell but messy wind carries on for a few days, with the energy fluctuating in the moderate range (1108 to 2560 combined energy). A lot of these days are "marginal" at best.
Then, we get a real beauty lined up. Thursday the 17th afternoon looks incredible. A 5ft, 14-second SW groundswell, with light offshore winds from the north. The energy is moderate but the quality is rated as excellent. That’s a solid session for an experienced surfer.
Hold tight, because the back half of the window gets interesting. After a few days of building but choppy conditions, Monday the 21st of September arrives with a punch. We’ve got a 8ft SW groundswell, light offshore winds from the NW, and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The combined energy hits 2250, and by the afternoon it’s blowing offshore from the NW at a moderate 12 mph. This is a serious session.
The 23rd of September (Wednesday) is the other major head-turner. An 8ft SW groundswell, but with a 16-second period and a massive 3848 combined energy. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the WNW. This is powerful, groundswell-driven surf. It's right at that top-end expert level, but for those who can handle it, this is the best of the best on offer. It’s also a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s got all the ingredients.
Towards the end, the 24th of September (Thursday) offers a final clean, smaller day at 6ft with clean offshore winds for the morning before the wind turns nasty on the 25th.
So, the standout calls? Saturday the 12th for a clean, fun session that’s a bit more forgiving. And Monday the 21st and Wednesday the 23rd of September for the big, powerful, clean groundswell that this reef was made for. The long period (15-16s) will make for some hefty, well-defined lines, but you want to be on your game.
Stay sharp, and pick your days. This reef won't give you a free ride.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3293 | 2692 | 1585 | 1486 | 1983 | 1899 | 1456 | 1265 | 671 | 823 | 1141 | 893 | 285 | 895 | 721 | 2491 | 2492 | 2232 | 2586 | 2329 | 1460 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:43PM0.90m | 2:08AM0.60m | 2:11PM0.87m | 2:29AM0.72m | 2:36PM0.82m | 2:51AM0.82m | 2:58PM0.75m | 3:15AM0.88m | 3:16PM0.68m | 3:39AM0.92m | 3:32PM0.60m | 4:02AM0.91m | 3:40PM0.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:25PM0.08m | 7:47AM0.09m | 8:34PM0.06m | 8:25AM0.05m | 8:44PM0.04m | 9:00AM0.04m | 8:56PM0.02m | 9:32AM0.06m | 9:08PM0.02m | 10:02AM0.10m | 9:19PM0.02m | 10:31AM0.16m | 9:29PM0.03m | ||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | N 5 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
3293 | 2692 | 1585 | 1486 | 1983 | 1899 | 1456 | 1265 | 671 | 823 | 10 | 226 | 285 | 197 | 721 | 2491 | 2492 | 2232 | 2586 | 2329 | 1460 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 26 | S 25 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | NNE 5 | N 4 | SW 19 | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 27 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 387 | — | 7 | 2 | 95 | — | 257 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | N 5 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 6 | WSW 14 | — | — | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — |
21 | 9 | 16 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 43 | 1141 | 893 | 73 | 895 | — | — | — | 10 | 4 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 160 | 160 | 138 | 506 | 138 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 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.










