
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 19s period, SW swell with 10,338 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 4.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our stretch of coast, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag of a forecast. We’ve got some serious size coming through, but the wind is going to be the real story, and it’s not always a good one. The water temperature is sitting at 59° – pretty much spot on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first proper look we get is Friday morning, 7 August. Chinamans is a reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s got a solid 7.5 ft swell pushing in from the SW with a long 16-second period. The combined energy is strong at 2475, so there’s plenty of grunt. The wind is a cross-off from the NNE at 15.5 mph, keeping things clean. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so this is for the advanced crew who know the reef. Friday afternoon drops a little to 6.9 ft, still with a 17-second period, but the wind swings to a NE cross-off at 12.4 mph, keeping it clean. The combined energy is still strong at 2471.
Saturday morning, 8 August, is a bit smaller at 5.9 ft with a 16-second period, but the wind is a cross-off from the N at 18.6 mph, so it’s clean, but that fresh breeze will make it a bit of a paddle. The real standout on Saturday is the afternoon – the wind turns offshore from the N at 15.5 mph, with 5.9 ft swell from the SW and a 15-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 1439, but that offshore wind will make the waves clean and lined up. This is your best bet for the weekend – a solid, clean session.
Sunday, 9 August, is a write-off. Strong winds from the WSW, gusting up to 34.2 mph, and the swell is 9.8 ft with a 16-second period, but it’s just a mess. The combined energy is massive at 3887, but the cross-shore wind will chop it up. This is a day to stay on the beach, and honestly, for a beach and reef setup, it’s looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Monday, 10 August, sees the swell building to 11.5 ft on the morning with a 17-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 7011. The wind is a cross-shore from the WSW at 18.6 mph, so it’s lumpy. Monday afternoon drops to 9.8 ft with a 16-second period, and the wind turns to a cross-off from the W at 15.5 mph, which cleans it up a bit, but the energy is still strong at 4930. This is for the experienced crew only.
Tuesday, 11 August, has a smaller 5.9 ft swell with a 14-second period in the morning. The wind is a strong offshore from the NNW at 24.9 mph, but that’s a gale-force paddle, and the combined energy is moderate at 1630. The afternoon is similar at 4.9 ft, with a 14-second period and a strong offshore from the N at 24.9 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 1048. It’s clean, but hard work.
Wednesday, 12 August, is another messy day. The wind is howling from the W at 31.1 mph in the morning, with a 11.5 ft swell and a 19-second period. The combined energy is extreme at 9924, but the wind is cross-off and too strong. The afternoon sees a 13.1 ft swell with a 17-second period, a cross-shore from the WSW at 28.0 mph, and a combined energy of 8603. It’s a mess.
Thursday, 13 August, is a real standout. The morning has a 13.1 ft swell from the
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri afternoon, near gales from the SW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the WNW on Mon afternoon, gales from the WSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2475 | 2471 | 1761 | 1613 | 1432 | 1155 | 3887 | 4585 | 9558 | 7011 | 4930 | 2567 | 1289 | 877 | 6948 | 9924 | 8603 | 6872 | 8478 | 4834 | 2708 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 8:33AM0.83m | 11:06AM0.88m | 12:25PM0.97m | 2:55AM0.27m | 1:14PM1.05m | 2:11AM0.35m | 1:53PM1.08m | 2:26AM0.46m | 2:27PM1.08m | 2:49AM0.57m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:08PM0.10m | 11:05PM0.12m | 10:18PM0.14m | 9:24PM0.14m | 4:16AM0.27m | 9:11PM0.13m | 6:22AM0.21m | 9:14PM0.12m | 7:25AM0.15m | 9:24PM0.11m | |||||||||||
7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | N 6 | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
2475 | 2471 | 1761 | 1613 | 1432 | 1155 | 10 | — | — | — | 4930 | 2567 | 1289 | 877 | — | — | — | — | 8478 | 4834 | 2708 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 5 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 21 | — | — | 7 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 341 | 171 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 4 | N 6 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 17 | — | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — |
22 | — | 71 | 62 | 31 | 134 | 3887 | 4585 | 9558 | 7011 | — | 85 | 199 | 131 | 6948 | 9924 | 8603 | 6872 | 6285 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 3 | 81 | 81 | 0 | 81 | 163 | 372 | 589 | 867 | 7 | 74 | 645 | 1034 | 1095 | 1095 | 1040 | 1200 | 745 | 738 | 162 |
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.











