Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 pm 14 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.5° C
0.1° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,023 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) 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 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Wed 15th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 3AM (Wed 15th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Most Powerful 9PM (Tue 14th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let's take a look at what's cooking for Chinamans.

We’re kicking off with a solid pulse of swell. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there. Get ready for some serious size though. The good stuff starts rolling in on Tuesday the 14th, with a big 10ft SW groundswell, and it’s packing a huge amount of energy (4084). The wind is a cross-shore though, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy. This is deep-water, experienced punters only – way too big for the average weekend warrior.

The real standout window opens up on Wednesday the 15th and runs straight through Friday the 17th. On Wednesday morning, we’re looking at a cleaner 7ft SW groundswell, still with plenty of power (1941). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean and well-shaped. That same quality holds through Wednesday afternoon and right through Thursday, with the wind turning offshore on Thursday afternoon, making for some prime conditions. Friday sees the swell drop a touch to 6ft, but it’s still lined up with that 16-second period and clean winds. This whole stretch is the pick of the forecast. It’s still expert territory at this size, but the quality will be there for those who can handle it.

Things start to settle down over the weekend. Saturday the 18th is still surfable but the swell is fading fast, dropping to 4ft by the morning and 4ft in the afternoon. The energy is way down too. Sunday the 19th is pretty much a write-off with some tiny swell and increasing wind. There’s a gap of a few days here where conditions are marginal at best.

We get a bit of a revival starting Monday the 21st, with a 5ft SSW groundswell pushing in and clean offshore winds on Tuesday morning. It’s not the same quality as earlier in the week, but for the patient surfer, there’s a wave to be had. That window is short-lived though, as conditions get messy from Wednesday the 23rd onward, with onshore winds and chop ruining the party. The swell stays around 6ft to 8ft for a few days, but with onshore wind, it’s going to be a mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing scenario.

Looking way out to the second week, things go pretty quiet. There’s a small chance of a cleaner wave on Sunday the 27th with offshore wind and a 4ft SW swell, but the energy is weak and the forecast is less certain that far out. By the 28th and 29th, we’re down to tiny, weak swell and poor conditions, so don’t hold your breath.

So, the call is simple: aim for Wednesday the 15th through Friday the 17th. That’s the best of it. Bring your big-wave board and your A-game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun night, min 13°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
2.1
SW
15
2
SW
14
1.8
SW
15
2.1
SW
15
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
15
1.8
SW
16
1.7
SW
16
1.4
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.8
SW
12
1.1
SW
18
1.3
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
1.6
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4084
2662
1941
1624
1421
1801
2133
1581
1728
1392
825
586
386
277
184
799
909
788
833
976
821
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
10
SW
10
N
5
NW
10
NE
15
NNE
10
N
15
NNE
15
N
10
N
15
NNE
15
NNE
15
N
20
NNE
25
N
20
N
25
N
25
N
20
N
15
NNW
25
NNW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
2:20AM0.37m
2:32PM1.22m
2:54AM0.45m
3:09PM1.19m
3:30AM0.53m
3:42PM1.12m
4:06AM0.61m
4:11PM1.02m
4:45AM0.67m
4:36PM0.90m
5:25AM0.72m
4:53PM0.77m
6:08AM0.75m
Low Tide
9:42PM0.16m
6:52AM0.17m
10:00PM0.16m
7:50AM0.15m
10:20PM0.16m
8:40AM0.16m
10:39PM0.17m
9:28AM0.20m
10:57PM0.18m
10:13AM0.27m
11:14PM0.19m
10:59AM0.36m
11:28PM0.20m
11:50AM0.45m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
 mm
Temp °C
14
13
13
14
13
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
15
16
14
16
17
14
17
17
14
Feels °C
11
11
11
13
11
9
10
9
10
11
11
11
11
12
9
11
12
9
13
13
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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