Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.3°C
0.8° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,293 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sat 12th Sep)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Sat 12th Sep)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Thu 10th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Imperial version:

Alright, let’s talk about Chinamans. This is a reef break that needs a solid SW swell and clean conditions to really shine, and we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The water temperature is sitting at 60°F right now, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The combined swell energy is strong through the first few days, with values like 3314 on Thursday, but the wind is just not playing ball early on. Thursday the 10th is a write-off – strong cross-onshore winds at 16 mph making a mess of that 8ft SW groundswell. Not worth paddling out. Friday the 11th is still pretty average, with cross-shore winds and a 6ft to 7ft swell, but the energy is still moderate to strong (1491-1983). Things start to look up on Saturday the 12th. A clean morning with light NE winds, 6ft SW swell, and the energy is solid at 1456. By Saturday afternoon, the wind shifts to a light NNE cross-offshore, and the swell drops to a cleaner 5ft with 1265 energy – this is a good window for experienced surfers. That’s your first real standout: clean, offshore-influenced, solid SW groundswell.

Sunday the 13th morning has fresh offshore winds from the north at 19 mph, but the swell drops to 4ft, and the energy is down to 823. It’s rideable, but the wind is a bit strong. Monday the 14th is a drop-off day with small swell.

Then we hit a bit of a lull, but it gets interesting again. The big standout window is Wednesday the 16th. After days of messy cross-onshore wind, Wednesday afternoon goes glassy with a 8ft SW groundswell pumping in at 2329 energy. The wind is dead calm – glassy conditions. That’s an epic session for experienced surfers, but with that size (8ft) and a 15-second period, it’s a groundswell that will be breaking quite straight at a beach break, but this is a reef, so it should handle it well. For a chest-to-head-high day, that’s the best on offer.

Thursday the 17th morning keeps it clean with moderate offshore winds from the north, 5ft swell, and 1092 energy – still very good, but a step down. The following weekend, Saturday the 19th has a fresh offshore wind but the swell is small (3ft to 4ft). Then Sunday the 20th afternoon the wind goes nasty, and by Monday the 21st through Wednesday the 23rd, we get a massive pulse of 10ft SW swell, but the wind is either cross-onshore or onshore, blowing 16 to 19 mph, with energy values hitting 4711, 4117, 6473 – that’s very strong swell energy, but it’s rough and choppy, only for the hardcore or those with a kite. The final window on Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th is cleaner with moderate cross-offshore winds, but the swell is still 7ft to 8ft. Friday the 25th afternoon has a 8ft SW swell, 3231 energy, and cross-offshore winds – that’s promising, but it’s far out.

Overall, the absolute standout is Wednesday the 16th afternoon: glassy, 8ft SW groundswell, reef break. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest of the period is either too windy, too small, or too messy for a proper session.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
2
2
3
3
4
3
2
1
2
1
3
0
1
2
0
2
4
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
16
1.9
SW
15
1.9
SW
15
2
SW
16
1.9
SW
16
1.8
SW
15
1.6
SW
16
1.1
SW
17
1.3
SW
16
1.5
WSW
16
1.4
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
1.5
WSW
14
1.5
SW
13
2.4
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
14
2.3
SW
16
2.3
SW
15
1.8
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3293
2692
1585
1486
1983
1899
1456
1265
671
823
1141
893
285
895
721
2491
2492
2232
2586
2329
1460
Wind (km/h)
25
E
25
E
20
ESE
20
E
15
E
15
ENE
15
NE
15
NNE
25
NNE
30
N
25
WSW
25
WSW
20
W
20
W
20
SSE
20
SE
15
ESE
20
ESE
15
E
5
SE
10
NE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
1:43PM0.90m
2:08AM0.60m
2:11PM0.87m
2:29AM0.72m
2:36PM0.82m
2:51AM0.82m
2:58PM0.75m
3:15AM0.88m
3:16PM0.68m
3:39AM0.92m
3:32PM0.60m
4:02AM0.91m
3:40PM0.53m
Low Tide
8:25PM0.08m
7:47AM0.09m
8:34PM0.06m
8:25AM0.05m
8:44PM0.04m
9:00AM0.04m
8:56PM0.02m
9:32AM0.06m
9:08PM0.02m
10:02AM0.10m
9:19PM0.02m
10:31AM0.16m
9:29PM0.03m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:09
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:13
 mm
Temp °C
11
12
12
15
15
16
19
20
21
19
15
13
16
17
13
12
13
10
12
13
13
Feels °C
6
7
8
12
12
13
14
15
16
14
11
9
12
12
8
9
10
5
10
11
11
  • 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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