Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.2° C
0.5° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 6,132 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chinamans this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 12th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Chinamans.

We’ve got a solid run of swell hitting this exposed reef setup, starting right now on Wednesday the 12th of August with a big pulse. It’s a proper SW groundswell, pushing 10ft with a very long 17-second period. That’s a lot of energy – we’re talking a combined energy reading of 8602 – so it’s strong. The catch is the wind is a fresh cross-shore, blowing at 19 mph, so the surface is going to be lumpy and cross-chop. The water is sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year. For the advanced crew, there are waves to be had, but it won’t be pretty.

Thursday the 13th keeps the 10ft SW swell going, but the period drops to 16 seconds. Wind backs off a bit. The afternoon swing to a cross-off breeze from the west at 12 mph cleans it up nicely, making for a much better window. Friday the 14th is similar, with the swell easing slightly to 8ft by afternoon and the wind going light. It’s still a cross-shore, but it’s clean.

Saturday the 15th is where it starts to fall apart. Swell drops under 8ft, but the wind swings onshore from the ESE and picks up. By the afternoon it’s choppy and poor. Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th are a write-off for quality with moderate cross-onshore winds and chop, even though there’s still decent SW swell in the water.

Tuesday the 18th sees the swell drop to 5ft, which is more manageable for less-experienced surfers, and the wind turns cross-off from the NNE. It’s clean, but the energy is dropping. That trend continues through Wednesday the 19th with tiny 3ft waves.

The standout moment comes on Thursday the 20th of August. We get a decent 5ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, and the wind goes offshore from the north, blowing at 12 mph. It’s clean, and for an advanced reef break like this, that offshore wind is gold. The energy is moderate (891). This is your best call.

Friday the 21st is also worth a paddle. The swell drops to 3ft in the morning but builds to 4ft by the afternoon. The wind stays light and cross-off, making for very clean conditions. It’s not big, but it’s fun.

The energy starts to build again Saturday the 22nd, with 8ft SW to WSW swell rolling back in, but the wind comes around onshore from the east. That pattern persists into Sunday the 23rd with a solid 12ft swell, but it’s choppy and blown out. Too much size and the wrong wind.

Monday the 24th keeps the 8ft size with a long 16-second period, but it’s cross-shore and lumpy again. The best window in this second week looks like Tuesday the 25th of August: we’ve got a 8ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period – very long period. The wind is cross-off from the NE and clean. The combined energy is strong at 5029, so there’s plenty of push. This is for the expert crew only, as it’s over 8ft and a reef. The long period means it’s best on a reef like this, but it can make the takeoff critical.

Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are wild. Strong to very strong energy (3866 to 6433) and strong cross-off winds, but the swell is big and the wind is fresh to strong. Thursday afternoon the 27th has a 10ft SW swell with 14-second period and a strong cross-off breeze at 25 mph – that’s going to be howling and hollow, only for the absolute best.

If you’re not an expert, the sweet spot is Thursday the 20th into Friday the 21st: clean, moderate swell, and the reef working perfectly. The rest of it is mostly big and bumpy, or small and clean. Crowds are only “sometimes” an issue at Chinamans, but with a forecast this good for the 20th, you might find a few others out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed morning, light winds from the SW by Fri morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
5
3
5
3
4
3
4
3
3
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
1
2
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
17
3
SW
17
3
SW
16
3
SW
16
3
SW
15
3
SW
16
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.3
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
1.9
SW
15
1.8
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
1.5
SW
14
1.7
SW
16
1.7
SW
16
1.1
SW
19
1.4
SW
17
1.2
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5808
5357
4869
4136
3557
4107
3937
3502
3058
2453
2129
1542
1402
1063
886
1456
1384
800
1174
765
416
Wind (km/h)
30
WSW
30
WSW
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
W
20
WSW
5
SW
10
SW
10
ESE
15
ESE
20
ESE
20
E
20
ESE
25
ESE
15
ESE
20
E
20
E
25
ENE
25
NE
30
NNE
35
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:53PM1.08m
2:26AM0.46m
2:27PM1.08m
2:49AM0.57m
2:57PM1.03m
3:17AM0.67m
3:23PM0.96m
3:45AM0.75m
3:46PM0.86m
4:14AM0.81m
4:04PM0.76m
4:43AM0.83m
4:16PM0.66m
Low Tide
9:14PM0.12m
7:25AM0.15m
9:24PM0.11m
8:14AM0.11m
9:36PM0.09m
8:57AM0.11m
9:50PM0.09m
9:36AM0.13m
10:03PM0.08m
10:14AM0.18m
10:15PM0.08m
10:49AM0.25m
10:25PM0.09m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:47
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:51
5:52
 mm
1
2
Temp °C
14
14
14
14
14
15
14
14
14
13
13
13
12
12
12
16
16
16
15
17
18
Feels °C
8
8
9
10
10
11
12
12
11
9
8
8
7
6
7
11
11
12
9
11
11
  • 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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