Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.1°C
0.5° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 5,085 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 14s. 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Mon 31st Aug)7ft (2.1m) 18s
Best Surf 3PM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 15s
Most Powerful 3PM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. This is your 16-day surf outlook. We’ve got a bit of a quiet start before things get exciting. For the next few days, the swell is there, but the winds are mostly cross-on or cross, making it choppy and messy. The biggest and cleanest surf is a long way off, but it’s a beauty when it finally arrives.

We’re looking at Chinamans, a solid reef break for advanced surfers. It’s fairly consistent, but the first few days are a write-off. On Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th, it’s all cross-onshore winds and marginal conditions. Swell is dropping from 7ft on Friday morning to 4ft on Saturday afternoon. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

Sunday the 30th is a mixed bag—morning is small at 4ft, still choppy, but Sunday afternoon sees a jump to 5ft with a 18-second period. That’s long-period groundswell, great for a reef break like this, but still cross-on winds. It’s not the best, but you can feel the energy building.

Now, Monday the 31st is where things start to turn. Morning brings a clean 7ft swell from the SW with a 19-second period, and glassy cross-off winds. That’s a solid session. By Monday afternoon, it goes offshore from the north at 9 mph, still 7ft. That’s clean, lined-up waves for experienced surfers. It’s a standout in this first week.

Tuesday the 1st of September has fresh offshore winds in the morning (NNW 22 mph) but the swell drops to 5ft. Still clean, but smaller. The wind picks up again on Wednesday and Thursday, with swell around 7ft to 8ft, but the wind is fresh and cross-off. It’s clean but the energy is moderate.

Now, the real show is Friday the 4th of September. This is the standout of the whole outlook. You’ve got a 10ft SW swell in the morning, building to 12ft in the afternoon, with a 14 to 15-second period. And the wind is light WNW at 6 mph, making it clean and cross-off. The combined energy is massive (7242 in the morning, 9537 in the afternoon). That’s strong to very strong energy. This is for experts only—over 8ft, so don’t even think about paddling out if you’re not solid. Crowds are possible here, and on a day like this, you can expect a few others in the water.

Saturday the 5th keeps the size around 10ft in the morning, but the wind screams up to 22-25 mph from the NW. It’s offshore, but fresh. Conditions get messy, and by Sunday the 6th, we’re looking at 13ft swell with a near gale (37 mph) by the afternoon. That’s more kite-surfing territory. Swell drops back through the second week, with some clean moments on Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th, when 8ft to 12ft SW swell lines up with light offshore and cross-off winds. That’s promising but less certain, as it’s over a week away.

In summary: if you’re a hardcore surfer, aim for Friday the 4th of September at Chinamans. That’s your best shot at something truly special. The week before has some clean days, but nothing like that Friday. The second week has potential, but keep an eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue morning).

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
0
1
0
1
2
1
4
4
3
3
2
1
3
3
2
3
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SW
16
2
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.2
SW
12
1.6
SW
18
1.8
SW
17
2.1
SW
19
2.1
SW
18
1.9
SW
16
1.6
SW
16
1.5
SW
15
1.5
SW
15
2.1
SW
16
2.2
SW
14
1.8
SW
14
2.1
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2537
1943
1108
802
553
411
449
1766
1818
3008
2714
1809
1281
975
988
1983
1929
1169
1761
2317
2536
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
15
E
15
ESE
20
ESE
15
E
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
E
15
E
15
NE
15
N
20
NNE
35
NNW
20
NW
20
SSW
20
WSW
25
W
25
WNW
35
NNW
35
W
20
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
2:25PM0.93m
2:45AM0.61m
2:45PM0.90m
3:02AM0.70m
3:05PM0.85m
3:22AM0.78m
3:23PM0.77m
3:46AM0.86m
3:39PM0.69m
4:12AM0.91m
3:51PM0.59m
4:43AM0.92m
3:53PM0.51m
Low Tide
9:04PM0.10m
8:19AM0.12m
9:11PM0.08m
8:51AM0.09m
9:19PM0.07m
9:24AM0.09m
9:27PM0.05m
9:57AM0.12m
9:37PM0.04m
10:33AM0.18m
9:47PM0.02m
11:12AM0.26m
9:58PM0.00m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:47
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:02
6:04
 mm
Temp °C
18
18
16
16
16
14
13
15
14
16
17
18
17
18
14
12
13
13
14
16
14
Feels °C
16
15
12
13
13
11
9
11
10
13
14
14
11
14
12
7
7
8
8
10
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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