Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.2°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 4 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 7,474 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 20s. 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 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Sat 12th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s
Best Surf 6AM (Sat 12th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 9th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here.

Looks like we’re in for a wild ride at Chinamans over the next couple of weeks, but you’ll have to be patient. There’s a big gap of pretty ordinary conditions before we get to anything worth paddling out for.

The immediate picture is dominated by a massive, powerful swell. Starting Saturday the 5th, we’ve got a serious SW groundswell pushing through, with wave heights around 12 feet and a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s a ton of energy in the water (5374), but it’s not doing us any favours right now. The wind is howling from the W at 31 mph, making it a cross-off mess – poor surf conditions. This weekend is a write-off for surfing; the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

That heavy swell hangs around into Sunday the 6th, though it drops slightly to 8 feet from the SW, period 14 seconds, with lighter 6 mph winds swinging south and becoming cross-on. Still, the rating is marginal at best. The energy stays high, and it’s just not clean enough to get excited about.

From Monday the 7th through to Saturday the 12th of September, it’s a slog. The swell drops and rises, but onshore and cross-on winds from the SE and ESE keep the surface choppy and messy. On Tuesday the 8th there’s a brief window with 7 feet SW swell and a very long period of 17 seconds, but onshore winds spoil it. The wave energy fluctuates, but the quality never lifts above marginal. Honestly, you’re better off staying home.

Now, here’s the standout. Sunday the 13th of September is the one to circle. The morning brings a clean, offshore breeze from the NNE at just 6 mph, and a clean 5 feet SW swell with a 14-second period. The combined wave energy (1174) is moderate, but the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. The offshore wind will have the reef line-up looking smooth as glass. Afternoon stays clean with a 4 feet SW swell and almost no wind – also very good, just smaller. This is the pick of the month.

We then hit another dry spell from Monday the 14th through Wednesday the 16th with tiny swells and fresh onshore winds – don’t bother.

But wait, there’s more. Thursday the 17th of September fires up again. Morning brings a clean 4 feet SW swell with a light offshore from the NNW, and the afternoon steps it up: 5 feet SW swell, period 14 seconds, with a gentle offshore from the north causing clean conditions. The rating here is excellent for experienced surfers. Another great day.

After that, Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th stay rideable with 5 to 6 feet SW swell, but the winds become more cross-off or variable, dropping the quality back to marginal. Sunday the 20th looks promising in the data with a solid 7 feet SW groundswell and a very long 19-second period, but strong westerly winds at 22 mph keep it a question mark for now.

Bottom line: Chinamans is a powerful, exposed reef break suited to advanced surfers. Don’t rush out this weekend. Wait for Sunday the 13th or Thursday the 17th – those are your two true standouts with clean winds and solid SW groundswell.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sat morning, light winds from the S by Mon afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSE by Tue night).

Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
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
2
4
3
2
1
0
2
2
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WSW
15
3.5
SW
12
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.1
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
1.3
SW
13
1.3
SW
14
1.6
SW
19
2.1
SW
17
2.1
SW
16
2.4
SW
16
2.5
SW
17
3.5
SW
18
3.5
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
1.9
SW
15
1.8
SW
15
1.9
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5374
3527
3781
2223
1762
1014
537
579
1691
2622
2355
2941
3455
6935
6549
4804
3664
2523
1563
1361
1715
Wind (km/h)
50
W
40
W
25
SW
10
SW
15
SW
20
S
20
SE
10
S
15
ESE
5
SSE
25
SW
25
SSE
35
SE
30
SE
25
SE
20
ESE
20
E
20
E
10
ENE
10
ESE
15
ENE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
7:40AM0.76m
11:29AM0.78m
12:33PM0.85m
2:08AM0.36m
1:12PM0.89m
1:56AM0.47m
1:43PM0.90m
2:08AM0.60m
2:11PM0.87m
2:29AM0.72m
Low Tide
10:11PM0.02m
9:54PM0.06m
9:04PM0.10m
8:31PM0.11m
6:00AM0.26m
8:23PM0.10m
7:02AM0.17m
8:25PM0.08m
7:47AM0.09m
8:34PM0.06m
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:09
 mm
Temp °C
13
13
14
14
14
13
13
13
12
11
13
12
12
13
10
11
12
11
14
14
15
Feels °C
3
4
10
12
10
9
10
11
9
10
8
7
5
6
4
7
7
7
11
11
12
  • 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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