
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 18s period, SW swell with 3,603 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m 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 2.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for Chinamans.
We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag ahead. The next couple of days aren't really worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate for a splash. Sunday the 5th, we see a solid 8 ft swell rolling in, but it’s from the SSW with that 20 km/h cross breeze, and the water’s a bit choppy. That 3590 (moderate to strong energy) sounds like it’s got some push, but the wind’s not playing nice, and it’s rated as marginal. You’ll want to sit that one out.
Monday the 6th is even smaller and sloppier – a drop to 5 ft, same cross wind trouble. Not worth the effort.
Now, Wednesday the 8th starts to get interesting. Wednesday morning’s still messy with 8 ft and a cross wind, but Wednesday afternoon, things clean right up. We get a light 10 km/h cross-off breeze from the NE, and the swell settles to 7 ft from the SW with that long 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and at 2355 (moderate energy), it’s got a nice pulse. Chinamans is a reef break, so that long period will wrap in beautifully. It’s an advanced wave, and the crowd factor is only “sometimes,” so you might score it without too many others. This is one of the best windows: decent size, clean lines, and that offshore feel.
Friday the 10th is another standout. Morning sees a 6 ft SW swell but the key is the fresh 20 km/h NNW offshore wind. That’s clean, glassy conditions, and again with a 16-second period. It’s a little smaller than Wednesday but so tidy. This is your call if you want a longer, cleaner session without the bigger drop.
Over the weekend, things get wild. Sunday the 12th, we get a big 10 ft W swell, but the period drops to 11 seconds and the wind swings hard cross-off, making for a messy, lumpy surface. That’s more of a brute than a beauty. By Monday the 13th, we’re looking at 12 ft SW swell, but 40 km/h cross-on winds kill it. Over 8 ft, that’s expert territory, and with that wind, it’s a washing machine.
After a rough mid-week, the real gem might be the final weekend. Saturday the 19th has 10 ft from the SW again, but Sunday morning the 19th is glassy – zero wind out of the South. That’s 10 ft of clean, lined-up swell with 15-second period, and the water temp anomaly is only 0.3° above normal, so about average for the time of year. That’s a heavy session for the crew who know what they’re doing. Then Monday the 20th afternoon, it’s glassy again, 10 ft, 16-second swell, and an energy reading of 7008 (strong to very strong). That’s the best on offer – a true stand-out for expert surfers, with no wind to mess it up.
So, wrap it up: Wednesday the 8th afternoon and Friday the 10th are your solid, reliable windows. But if you want the glory, keep watching the long-range for Monday the 20th. That one’s a promise, but we’ll see how it holds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri night, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3580 | 2567 | 1721 | 763 | 463 | 288 | 886 | 1055 | 1163 | 3483 | 2355 | 1420 | 757 | 710 | 1697 | 1357 | 1138 | 813 | 526 | 386 | 224 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:28PM0.96m | 5:12AM0.60m | 4:48PM0.86m | 5:55AM0.65m | 5:03PM0.75m | 6:51AM0.71m | 5:04PM0.64m | 8:06AM0.78m | 9:43AM0.87m | 11:10AM0.97m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 9:34AM0.31m | 11:30PM0.26m | 10:15AM0.36m | 11:42PM0.26m | 11:07AM0.44m | 11:54PM0.26m | 12:23PM0.52m | 00:07AM0.25m | 00:21AM0.23m | 00:38AM0.23m | 1:01AM0.23m | ||||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 7 | 13 |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
3580 | 2567 | 1721 | 763 | 463 | 288 | 886 | 1055 | 1163 | 3483 | 2355 | 1420 | 757 | 598 | 1697 | 1357 | 1138 | 813 | 526 | 386 | 224 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | E 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | 199 | — | — | 668 | — | — | — | 106 | 710 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 471 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | E 3 | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | N 5 | NW 5 |
10 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 71 | 152 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 472 | 163 |
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.










