
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 4 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: Sunday 5 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 19s period, SSW swell with 3,901 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 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 05) 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 1.1m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 12AM.
| 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 | 3AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, get the wax out. We’re looking at Chinamans—a reef break, advanced only, fairly consistent, and exposed to the west. Swell is coming from the southwest, which suits it fine. Water temp is around average for this time of year, nothing weird.
Start on Sunday, July 5th. There’s a solid 8ft southwest swell rolling in with a 17-second period—that’s proper groundswell. But the wind is cross-shore from the ENE at 16 mph, and the surface is messy. The combined energy is high at 3587 (moderate-to-strong), but the surf quality is only marginal. Not a goer.
Sunday afternoon: 7ft SSW swell, onshore wind, total chop. Forget it.
Monday the 6th: smaller 5ft SW swell in the morning, still cross-shore. Bumpy. Afternoon is worse.
Tuesday the 7th stays small—4 to 5ft SW—with cross-shore wind and marginal conditions.
Here’s where it gets real. Wednesday the 8th morning: 8ft SW swell with an 18-second period, and the wind turns cross-off from the NE at just 9 mph. Clean faces, energy reading 3483 (strong). Good session for the experienced crew.
Wednesday afternoon is even better. Wind drops to 6 mph from the NNE, still cross-off, swell holds at 7ft SW with 16 seconds. The combined energy is 2326 (moderate-to-strong) and it’s clean. This, right here, is the highlight of the first week. Get in the water.
Thursday the 9th: clean again. Morning runs 5ft SW with 15 seconds, barely any wind. Thursday afternoon is glassy—4ft SW at 15 seconds, dead calm. Perfect for smooth lines and smaller crowds.
Friday the 10th: offshore wind from the NNW at 12–16 mph. Swell sits at 6–7ft SW, 15 seconds, clean and powerful. Solid day.
Saturday the 11th: forget it. Rain and strong SW winds at 28 mph. Messy and dangerous.
Sunday the 12th: big 8ft SW swell returns, but wind is cross-shore most of the day. Afternoon gets cleaner but still marginal.
Monday the 13th: morning is average with 7ft SSW at 19 seconds, energy 4673 (strong). But the afternoon? That’s 12ft SW at 19 seconds with energy of 8276—very strong. That’s big, long-period groundswell. Only experts should even think about it.
Tuesday the 14th: morning clean with 8ft SW (16 seconds, 3177 energy), then the afternoon turns into thunderstorms and messy chop.
Wednesday the 15th: 8ft SW at 16 seconds, cross-off by afternoon, clean but not a standout.
Thursday the 16th: rain and wind, swell down to about 6ft SW. Poor.
Friday the 17th: swell drops below 3ft. Not worth it.
Saturday the 18th: the swell comes back to 8ft SW, but the onshore wind ruins the surface.
And here’s the final big moment: Sunday the 19th of July. Morning is 10ft SW at 17 seconds, with cross-shore wind, but afternoon goes huge—12ft SW with a massive 21-second period. Combine that with light cross-off wind and you’ve got a combined energy of 12473—very strong. That is a genuine big-wave session for experts only. Then Monday the 20th still has 10ft SW but the wind turns onshore, spoiling it.
So if you’re asking me where to paddle out: Wednesday the 8th afternoon is the sweet spot for clean, strong waves without going huge. And Sunday the 19th afternoon is the big one if you’re ready for the size. All the other days are either waiting for the wind to cooperate or just plain messy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Sat 11 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | 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 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1506 | 3580 | 2567 | 1721 | 857 | 463 | 288 | 886 | 1164 | 1124 | 3483 | 2326 | 1532 | 924 | 757 | 1675 | 1418 | 1108 | 736 | 1886 | 1539 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:36AM0.55m | 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 | 11:15PM0.25m | 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 | ||||||||||
— | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | 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 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | — | SW 13 |
1506 | 3580 | 2567 | 1721 | 857 | 463 | 288 | 886 | 1164 | 1124 | 3483 | 2326 | 1532 | 924 | 757 | 1675 | 1418 | 1108 | 736 | — | 418 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
392 | — | — | — | — | — | 199 | — | — | 668 | — | — | — | — | 293 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
540 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 372 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 4 | WSW 14 | SW 12 |
6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 19 | 46 | 1886 | 1539 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 728 | 749 |
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.











