Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,204 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks for Chinamans. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real gems if you’re willing to wait.
The surf is up right now, with a strong SW groundswell, but the wind isn't playing ball. We’re looking at a solid 8ft SW swell on Thursday the 23rd, but that cross-onshore breeze is ruining the party, making it choppy and poor. The water is about what you'd expect for this time of year. For a paddle surfer, the first few days are a no-go.
Things improve a touch on Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th, but the waves still have a cross-chop on them. The real change comes on Sunday morning the 26th. The wind swings light offshore from the NW, going nearly glassy. The swell drops to a clean 4ft, and the energy settles down. This is your first proper, clean session.
Then it gets messy again. A big 8ft SW swell hits on Tuesday the 28th, but the wind goes onshore and choppy again. That's more of a kite-surf setup than a clean surf.
Now for the good stuff. The standout period is Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd of August. Saturday morning brings a beautiful 6ft SW groundswell with near-perfect, glassy conditions and a light offshore breeze. The wave energy is solid, and conditions are rated as excellent. Sunday is even better, with a 6-7ft SW groundswell and the same light winds. This is classic Chinamans: clean, powerful, and with those long-period lines (over 15 seconds) that hold up nicely on the reef. The size means these are for experienced surfers only. Expect a few heads out given the quality.
Looking further ahead, Thursday the 6th of August is another one to watch. Another 6ft SW swell with a clean offshore wind. It’s a long-range promise, but it looks good on paper.
Bottom line: a rough start, a decent Sunday, a blown-out midweek, and then absolute quality on that first weekend and into August. Patience is the key here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2295 | 2544 | 3026 | 2832 | 2418 | 1914 | 1236 | 1210 | 777 | 520 | 478 | 413 | 441 | 642 | 632 | 784 | 1907 | 3162 | 2944 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 8:11AM0.76m | 10:19AM0.78m | 11:59AM0.84m | 12:49PM0.90m | 1:24PM0.96m | 2:45AM0.37m | 1:54PM1.01m | 2:43AM0.41m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:42PM0.22m | 11:35PM0.23m | 11:03PM0.24m | 10:07PM0.23m | 9:39PM0.22m | 9:34PM0.20m | 6:03AM0.32m | 9:37PM0.19m | |||||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | N 5 | SW 16 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 1031 | 1244 | 3026 | 2832 | 2418 | 796 | 1236 | 269 | 777 | 520 | 478 | 413 | 441 | 642 | 632 | 784 | 4 | 1719 | 2944 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — | SW 14 | — | SW 16 | WSW 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | 25 | 10 | 34 | 139 | — | 218 | — | 1265 | 444 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | — | SW 15 | — | — | SW 14 | N 5 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | 56 | — | — | 228 | 4 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | — | — | — | SW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | W 6 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — |
| kJ | 2295 | 2544 | — | — | — | 1914 | 545 | 1210 | — | — | — | — | 58 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 1907 | 3162 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 32 | 745 | 7 | 7 | 506 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 7 |
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.
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