Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 pm 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.3° C
0.3° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,947 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 3PM (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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 24s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Thu 30th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 3AM (Tue 4th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sun 2nd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Chinamans over the next couple of weeks.

Things start off a bit quiet, but don’t let that fool you – there’s some serious juice building in the back half of this outlook. We’ve got a long run of mostly marginal conditions early on, with a few windows of clean surf if you’re patient.

Thursday 30th July is a slow burner. Thursday morning is a bit messy with a light cross-onshore and a 5.6 ft SW swell (991 combined energy). Not writing it off, but it’s not firing. The afternoon cleans right up though – glassy conditions with a 5.2 ft SW groundswell (832 energy). That’s the kind of session where you’ll be sharing the lineup with the locals who know.

Friday 31st July is better. Clean all day with light cross-offshore winds and a 3.6 ft SW swell (536-704 energy). It’s not big, but it’s clean and the crowd factor is only “sometimes”, so you can get a few to yourself. For a reef break like Chinamans, that’s a solid option.

Saturday 1st August picks up with a 5.6 ft to 6.9 ft SW swell (1741-2296 energy) and moderate offshore winds. This is getting into advanced territory size-wise, but the period is long (17-18 seconds), so the sets will have real punch. The offshore wind will keep the faces clean, but the tide might be a factor.

Sunday 2nd August is a write-off. Strong winds (25 mph) and rain make for a rough session despite the 5.9 ft to 7.2 ft swell. The energy is still there (1602-2753), but the conditions are too messy to get excited about.

Monday 3rd August looks like a pass. Cross-onshore winds and choppy 7.2 ft swell (1956 energy) – not the kind of day you’d paddle out for.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday 4th August morning is a gem. Glassy conditions, 4.6 ft SW groundswell (975 energy). The water temp is about average for this time of year. That’s the kind of session that makes you forget the rain.

Wednesday 5th August is the first real standout. Morning has clean 4.3 ft SW swell with 18-second period (1511 energy) and offshore winds. The afternoon gets even better: 5.6 ft SW, 17-second period, offshore wind (2076 energy). This is excellent for experienced surfers. The long period means the waves will have shape and power, but on a reef like Chinamans, it’ll line up beautifully.

Thursday 6th August fades a bit. The swell is 5.9 ft to 6.6 ft (1685-1904 energy) but the wind swings cross and cross-onshore, so the surface gets bumpy.

Friday 7th August morning is a highlight for bigger wave hunters. 8.2 ft SW swell with 16-second period (3458 energy) and clean cross-offshore winds. That’s a serious session, but only for experienced surfers. The afternoon drops to 7.9 ft but stays clean (2627 energy).

Saturday 8th August drops right back. Swell retreats to 4.6 ft (898-1156 energy) with fresh cross-offshore winds. It’s clean but weak – a longboard kind of day.

Sunday 9th August is a big, wild card. Morning has a 11.5 ft WSW swell with strong offshore winds (6652 energy) – that’s a lot of water moving. It’s expert-only territory. The afternoon turns into a messy 13.1 ft swell (6795 energy) with strong cross-shore wind and rain. That’s not surfing – that’s survival.

Monday 10th August stays big but messy. 11.5 ft to 8.2 ft SW swell (4369-3834 energy) with moderate cross-shore winds. The energy is there, but the conditions are average.

Tuesday 11th August is a dud. Small 4.9 ft to 4.3 ft swell (640-520 energy) with onshore and cross-shore winds. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday 12th August is another standout in the long-range. A big 9.8 ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period (7879 energy) and light cross-shore wind. That is a serious, powerful groundswell with very long periods. It will be breaking straight at a beach break, but on a point or reef like Chinamans, it’ll be epic. The morning is the pick – the afternoon is still good but gets a bit messier.

Thursday 13th

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Sat morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sat night, calm by Tue morning).

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
2
0
1
1
3
3
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
1.6
SW
13
1.3
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
18
1.7
SW
18
2.1
SW
17
1.9
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
2.2
WSW
15
2.3
SW
16
2.2
SW
14
2.1
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
1.4
SW
16
1.2
SW
15
0.9
SW
20
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1639
991
821
552
424
398
614
1741
2296
1901
1602
2169
2702
1956
1572
954
942
631
660
Wind (km/h)
15
S
10
SE
5
SSE
10
ENE
10
NNE
10
NNE
15
NE
25
N
25
N
30
NNW
40
W
35
WSW
30
SW
20
SSW
20
SSW
10
SSE
0
S
5
SW
5
NE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
cross
cross-off
High Tide
2:54AM0.45m
2:44PM1.05m
3:10AM0.51m
3:07PM1.04m
3:30AM0.57m
3:28PM1.00m
3:52AM0.63m
3:48PM0.94m
4:17AM0.69m
4:06PM0.85m
4:45AM0.76m
4:21PM0.75m
Low Tide
9:44PM0.17m
7:35AM0.24m
9:54PM0.16m
8:10AM0.21m
10:04PM0.16m
8:44AM0.20m
10:14PM0.15m
9:18AM0.21m
10:24PM0.15m
9:54AM0.23m
10:33PM0.15m
10:33AM0.28m
10:42PM0.14m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:16
7:16
7:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:37
5:38
5:38
5:39
5:40
5:42
 mm
3
1
Temp °C
12
12
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
14
13
13
13
13
13
12
12
12
12
Feels °C
8
9
10
9
9
10
8
6
7
8
5
5
5
8
8
8
10
9
9
  • 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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