
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 7,616 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m 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 3.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's take a look at what's on the table for Chinamans.
We're looking at a real mixed bag, folks. The start of the period is a write-off thanks to howling wind, but there's a couple of windows that'll get the heart rate up. Let's break it down.
First up, Friday the 4th. There's a solid 10ft SW groundswell in the water with a long 16-second period, so there's plenty of energy (4272). Problem is, we've got a moderate breeze from the N and NNE, which is cross-offshore. The reports call it "marginal" – I'd say it's a tough paddle and the wind will mess with the face. It's a reef break for advanced surfers only at this size, so I'd be sitting this one out unless you're feeling bulletproof.
Saturday the 5th is a total no-go. A near-gale from the WSW kicks up 31 mph winds and the swell jumps to 12ft with 15 seconds of period. The combined energy is massive (5293), but with those winds it's just a washing machine. Later in the day it goes cross-shore and messy. Not worth it.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Sunday the 6th is your standout. The wind drops right off, going glassy in the morning with the lightest of breezes from the WNW at just 3 mph. We've still got a solid 8ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, giving it 2256 energy. It's still a big wave for a reef – experts only – but the conditions are described as "excellent." Glassy face, clean lines. This is the session to circle on the calendar.
Monday the 7th sees the swell drop to 4ft and the wind swings onshore from the ESE, killing the quality. Choppy and poor. The energy drops to 546, so it's a weak day.
Tuesday the 8th brings a new pulse of 7ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period (2810 energy). That long period means the reef will handle it well, and the swell direction (SW) is right in the optimum for Chinamans. But the wind is a light cross-onshore from the E, so you'll get small ripples on the face. It's a marginal day, but a long-period SW groundswell on a reef is always worth a look if the tide is right.
Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are hammered by strong onshore winds (25 mph) and big swell (10-12ft). Combined energy spikes to 7678 on Wednesday, but it's just blown-out, dangerous surf. Avoid.
The second week is a lot less promising. From Friday the 11th through to Saturday the 19th, we see a mix of smaller swell (3-6ft) and constant onshore or cross-shore winds. A couple of brief windows pop up: Sunday the 13th afternoon has a clean 6ft WSW swell with a 16-second period and moderate offshore wind from the NNW (2547 energy). That'll be clean and fun for the better surfers. Monday the 14th morning also has clean 7ft SW swell, but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-off, which will make it lumpy.
After that, it's mostly poor to marginal conditions with onshore winds and messy chop right through to the 19th. Not much to get excited about.
Bottom line: Sunday the 6th is the clear winner – glassy, solid SW groundswell, clean. Sunday the 13th afternoon is your back-up if you can wait, with offshore wind and a clean 6ft swell. The rest of the run is pretty average.
Stay safe, and check the tides.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Fri night, calm by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
4264 | 4272 | 3631 | 2197 | 5293 | 3041 | 3082 | 2256 | 1641 | 865 | 424 | 457 | 2556 | 2790 | 2326 | 1787 | 6230 | 7616 | 7172 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:20AM0.90m | 3:32PM0.45m | 6:08AM0.84m | 7:40AM0.76m | 11:29AM0.78m | 12:33PM0.85m | 2:08AM0.36m | 1:12PM0.89m | 1:56AM0.47m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 9:58PM0.00m | 12:03PM0.37m | 10:08PM0.00m | 10:11PM0.02m | 9:54PM0.06m | 9:04PM0.10m | 8:31PM0.11m | 6:00AM0.26m | 8:23PM0.10m | ||||||||||
— | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
6:04 | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
4264 | 4272 | 3631 | 2197 | — | — | 3082 | 2256 | 1641 | 865 | 424 | 457 | 2556 | 2790 | 2326 | 1787 | 6230 | 7616 | 7172 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 19 | — | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 13 | — | — | SSW 24 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | — | 21 | 116 | 338 | 245 | — | — | 381 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 4 | W 5 | SW 15 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 |
— | — | 7 | 114 | 5293 | 3041 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 11 | 46 | 20 | 8 | 35 | 77 | 62 | 66 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 162 | 81 | 662 | 1031 | 1196 | 162 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 32 | 1086 | 1055 | 1034 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










