
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with 2,691 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 12PM (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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Chinamans. We’ve got a mixed bag of surf ahead, but there are a few windows of clean swell that should get the heart rate up if you pick your moments.
Overall, the first few days are a bit of a slow starter, with Thursday looking pretty average as a light cross-on breeze messes with the 5.6ft SW swell. The wave energy is moderate at 991, and honestly, it’s not going to be a day to write home about. But Thursday afternoon does turn interesting: the wind goes glassy, completely flat, with the swell still a solid 5.2ft from the SW at a nice 13 second period. The energy drops a little to 832, but glassy conditions at a reef like Chinamans can turn that into a real gem. Water temp is 59.5°F, about average for this time of year, so the wetsuit’s on but it’s not freezing.
Friday shapes up better both morning and afternoon: cross-off winds (NE and N) keep things clean, with 3.6ft SW swell at 13 seconds. Combined wave energy is moderate in the 536 to 704 range, and it’s consistent enough to keep you busy without crowds being an issue. This is a nice, manageable size for most intermediate surfers, too.
Now, Saturday the 1st of August – this is where the swell really starts to pump. The morning brings a solid 5.6ft SW groundswell with a 17 second period, pure offshore N wind at 15 mph, and energy at 1722 (moderate to strong). That’s a proper setup. By the afternoon, the swell pushes to 6.9ft from the SW, period still a lovely 17 seconds, offshore wind holding, and the combined energy jumps to 2324. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but at over 8ft, it’s expert territory. The long period (over 15 seconds) works beautifully on a reef like Chinamans – expect groomed, powerful lines, but be ready for bigger sets rolling through with longer lulls. Crowds are possible at this spot, but with that size and quality, it might weed out the faint-hearted.
Sunday the 2nd gets a bit tricky. Wind swings NW then W, picking up to 22–28 mph. Even though it’s cross-off, that much wind makes the 5.6ft to 7.2ft SW swell feel raw and challenging. The energy is still high (1382 to 2654), but for paddle surfing, it’s marginal – those strong breezes will make it work. Honestly, with that wind and a beach-and-reef setup, I’d say it’s looking more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.
Monday the 3rd is a write-off: cross-on wind at 15 mph, 6.6ft–7.2ft wind-affected SW swell, poor surf quality – skip it.
Tuesday the 4th is a hidden gem. The morning is just okay with 4.6ft SW swell and onshore wind (combined energy 1044), but the afternoon? Glassy conditions, 4.3ft SW swell at a clean 15 seconds. Combined energy is 1020, and the report says excellent for experienced surfers. That late glass-off on a reef in the middle of the week? That’s the kind of session you remember.
Wednesday the 5th keeps the good energy going with a 3.6ft SW swell in the morning, clean cross-off, and a 13-second period. But the real standout is Wednesday afternoon: 5.6ft SW at 18 seconds (very long period) with a gentle offshore NNW wind at 9 mph. Combined energy hits 2205, and the quality is rated excellent for experienced surfers. Again, that long period on a reef will be a thing of beauty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun afternoon, calm by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
991 | 821 | 552 | 424 | 398 | 614 | 1722 | 2324 | 1901 | 1366 | 2070 | 2384 | 1956 | 1401 | 969 | 942 | 696 | 580 | 758 | 1729 | 1671 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:18AM0.80m | 4:29PM0.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:17AM0.35m | 10:51PM0.12m | ||||||||
7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 16 |
991 | 821 | 552 | 424 | 398 | 614 | 1722 | 2324 | 1901 | 1366 | 584 | 1225 | 1956 | 1401 | 969 | 942 | 696 | 535 | 581 | 1729 | 726 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 14 | — | — | WNW 7 | SW 8 | — | W 7 | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | WSW 13 | — |
— | 11 | 19 | 112 | 306 | 357 | — | — | 71 | 16 | — | 121 | — | 203 | 246 | 102 | 162 | 580 | 758 | 476 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 162 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 5 | NW 6 | WSW 15 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | NW 4 | SW 16 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 26 | 34 | 148 | 2070 | 2384 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 1671 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 0 | 81 | 645 | 162 | 540 | 506 | 506 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










