Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.7° C
0.4° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,288 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be 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 (Jul 23) at 3PM. 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Mon 20th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Mon 20th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 3PM (Thu 23rd Jul)8ft (2.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, rust heads, ol’ Rusty here with a look at what the ocean's got cookin' for your local stretch. We’re lookin' at Chinamans, and let me tell ya, the next couple of weeks are a proper mixed bag. We’ve got some solid groundswell on the horizon, but the wind is gonna be the real gatekeeper.

Right out of the gate, the coming week starts off with some real promise. Monday the 20th is looking like the pick of the first few days. We're seeing a clean, moderate energy swell rolling in, with a combined energy of 788. The wind is a light offshore from the NNW, and the 4ft southwest groundswell will be pumping in at a solid 15 seconds. It’s a reef break for the advanced crew, and with that kind of period, it’ll be a proper, lined-up wave. The water temp is feelin’ about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Monday afternoon steps it up a notch with the swell building to 5ft and the combined energy jumping to 1045. The wind stays offshore and light – that’s as good as it gets. This is definitely a standout window.

Tuesday the 21st is still a good shout, especially the morning. The swell holds at 5ft from the SW, period drops to a still-healthy 13 seconds, and the wind stays gentle offshore from the NW. The energy is solid at 821. It’ll be a fun session, but the quality starts to slip in the arvo as the wind swings to a cross-offshore and the wave comment gets a bit questionable. Wednesday through to Saturday is where things get a bit average. Onshore winds and lumpy conditions take over, with the swell energy getting pumped up but the quality dropping right off. Thursday the 23rd sees a big pulse of energy with the combined energy hitting 4965, but with a fresh cross-onshore wind and a 8ft swell, it’s gonna be a messy, blown-out mess. Not worth paddling out for.

Look, there’s a glimmer of hope on Sunday the 26th. The wind goes glassy in the morning, and the swell is a smaller 4ft, but the conditions will be clean. The wind stays light offshore into the arvo. It’s not the biggest, but it’ll be the cleanest wave you’ll find that weekend after the onshore slop.

Now, lookin’ ahead to the second week, there’s some real potential, but it’s a bit of a long-range call. Monday the 27th picks up again with a moderate offshore and building swell, but it’s the morning of Tuesday the 28th that catches my eye. That’s a serious swell pulse with a combined energy of 6570, a 10ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind. That is solid, powerful, and clean – but this is only for the experienced. That’s way too much for anyone green. The crowd could be an issue too, as it’s a spot that can get busy. Wednesday the 29th sees it drop back in size and quality, but then we get a real interesting one for the start of August. Saturday the 1st of August has a super clean forecast with light offshore winds and a very long-period SW groundswell of 18 seconds. The swell is only 2ft to 3ft, so it's small, but with that kind of period, it'll have plenty of push and shape on the reef. A proper little glassy gem for those in the know.

So to sum it up, your best bet is Monday the 20th through Tuesday morning the 21st for the best combination of size and clean conditions. For a super clean, small-wave session, keep an eye on Sunday the 26th or that little glassy window on the 1st of August.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
4
3
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.8
SW
14
1.6
SW
13
1.4
SW
13
1.4
SW
12
1.4
SW
14
1.8
SW
12
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
2.2
SW
15
2.1
SW
14
1.9
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
940
788
1045
1307
821
629
522
743
1019
2474
2704
3288
2690
2111
1752
1438
1261
1050
724
Wind (km/h)
15
N
20
NNW
15
NNW
15
N
15
NW
20
W
20
NW
25
WSW
30
WSW
30
SSW
30
SSW
25
SSW
25
SW
25
WSW
30
WSW
25
SW
20
SW
15
SW
15
SW
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:25AM0.72m
4:53PM0.77m
6:08AM0.75m
4:58PM0.66m
6:59AM0.76m
4:25PM0.58m
8:11AM0.76m
10:19AM0.78m
11:59AM0.84m
Low Tide
11:14PM0.19m
10:59AM0.36m
11:28PM0.20m
11:50AM0.45m
11:38PM0.21m
1:03PM0.53m
11:42PM0.22m
11:35PM0.23m
11:03PM0.24m
10:07PM0.23m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:34
 mm
1
2
1
Temp °C
16
14
15
15
15
15
15
14
13
12
11
11
12
12
12
14
14
14
14
Feels °C
12
10
12
11
11
11
11
9
6
4
3
5
6
6
6
9
10
10
11
  • 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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