
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 7,513 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real pulse of energy building later on. The first few days we’re dealing with some messy conditions from a big SW groundswell, but things clean up nicely by the end of the week. The real standout window is shaping up for the first weekend of August, with a solid, long-period groundswell and offshore winds.
We kick off on Tuesday, 28 July. Not a lot to get excited about, to be honest. There’s a solid 8.2ft to 9.8ft SW swell (15-second period) hitting Chinamans, but it’s coming in with a strong cross-shore wind from the WSW. The water’s sitting at 59.4°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. The energy is high – we’re talking 3300 to 3614 – but the surface is a total mess with lumpy cross-chop. It’s a pass.
Wednesday, 29 July, the swell hangs in at 8.2ft to 9.8ft from the SW, period still long at 15 to 16 seconds. The wind swings around to a cross-onshore, and it’s still choppy. The energy is pumping (4765), but it’s just not clean. A marginal day, best left for the big dogs with nothing else to do.
Thursday, 30 July, is where things start to turn. The swell drops to 5.2ft to 5.6ft, still SW, with a 13-second period. The morning is a bit cloudy with a light onshore, but the afternoon... wow. The wind goes glassy, dead calm. The energy drops to 832, but the quality is there. This is a sneaky good session for those who can get out. Clean, glassy lines. That’s a solid option.
Friday, 31 July, keeps the good vibes rolling. The swell is smaller, around 3.6ft, but it’s clean all day. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE and N, and the energy is moderate (536 to 786). It’s a fun, clean, small-wave day. Perfect for a longboard or a fish.
Now, Saturday, 1 August – this is the one to circle. The swell jumps back up to 5.9ft in the morning, building to 7.5ft by the afternoon, from the SW. The period stretches out to a very long 18 seconds. And the wind? Fresh offshore from the NNW. The energy is strong (2065 to 3123). This is a proper groundswell hitting a reef break with clean, offshore conditions. Chinamans will be handling this beautifully. It’s advanced territory at that size, but this is the best day of the run so far.
Sunday, 2 August, things get big and a bit ugly. The swell pumps up to 8.2ft in the morning, peaking at 11.5ft by the afternoon, with a 16-second period. The energy is monstrous (11316 in the afternoon). But the wind is onshore from the S and SSE. For a reef break, that’s a tough combo. It’s a powerful, messy wall of water. Only the experts with a death wish should be out there.
Monday, 3 August, the swell backs off to 6.6ft to 7.5ft, but the wind is cross-onshore from the ESE. Choppy and lumpy. A day to sleep in.
Tuesday, 4 August, the swell drops to 3.6ft to 4.3ft, and the wind is a cross-shore from the ENE/E. The energy is weak (690 to 728). Marginal at best.
Wednesday, 5 August, sees a new pulse of energy with a 3.6ft to 4.6ft swell, but a very long 18-second period. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the N and NNE. The energy is moderate (1148 to 1227). Could be fun if the sets come through, but it’s not a standout.
Thursday, 6 August,
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3097 | 3614 | 7340 | 4765 | 3051 | 1639 | 991 | 821 | 552 | 424 | 398 | 614 | 2065 | 3123 | 2241 | 3396 | 6203 | 3491 | 1975 | 1367 | 865 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:54PM1.01m | 2:43AM0.41m | 2:20PM1.04m | 2:54AM0.45m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:37PM0.19m | 6:55AM0.27m | 9:44PM0.17m | 7:35AM0.24m | 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 | ||||||||
7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
203 | — | 7340 | 4765 | 3051 | 1639 | 991 | 821 | 552 | 424 | 398 | 374 | 2065 | 3123 | 2241 | 991 | 6203 | 3491 | 1975 | 1367 | 865 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 17 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 19 | 112 | 388 | 614 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 227 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 4 |
3097 | 3614 | 5819 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 57 | 83 | 3396 | 5113 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 540 | 1196 | 1031 | 46 | 46 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 11 | 162 | 32 | 46 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 13 |
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.










