Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Issued: 8 am 07 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.7° C

Normal for this time of year

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 7,741 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 17s 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 Monday (Jul 13) at 3PM. 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Wed 8th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 17s
Best Surf12PM (Wed 8th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 17s
Most Powerful 3PM (Mon 13th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 19s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Howdy, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Chinamans, a solid reef break that can handle a proper swell.

The Big Picture

We start off slow, build into some real size, and have a couple of magic windows for clean surf. The water’s sitting at 60°F, pretty normal for this time of year.

Early Days (Tuesday 7th to Wednesday 8th July)

Tuesday the 7th is a scratch. Cross-breeze and a cross-chop on a 4ft SW swell with a long 16-second period. The wave energy is moderate at 896 and 1064, but the wind kills it. Wednesday the 8th jumps to 8ft in the morning from the SW, 18-second period, energy at 3483, but still a cross-shore wind. Afternoon drops to 7ft with a cross-onshore. Frustrating – good swell, bad conditions.

The First Standout – Thursday 9th and Friday 10th July

Now we’re cooking. Thursday morning the 9th, light cross-offshore wind from the north, 5ft SW swell, 15-second period, energy 1083 (moderate). Clean. Afternoon has a light offshore from the NW, 4ft SW swell, energy 1479 – even cleaner.

Friday the 10th is a gem. Offshore NNW winds at 12 mph all day. Swell holds at 5ft from the SW, 15-second period, energies 1232 and 1134 (moderate). Clean, lined-up long-period swell on a reef. For advanced surfers, this is the pick of the first week. Crowds are possible sometimes, but it’s worth it.

Weekend Blowout (Saturday 11th to Sunday 12th July)

Saturday the 11th gets ugly. Swell hits 8ft from the WSW with 25 mph winds. Afternoon drops to a short 9-second chop. Sunday the 12th is massive: 10ft SW swell, fresh cross-offshore at 22 mph – clean but only for experts.

Mid-Week Build (Monday 13th to Tuesday 14th July)

Monday the 13th goes big. Afternoon swell reaches 12ft from the SW, 19-second period, energy at 8876 (strong). Moderate cross-shore wind at 16 mph creates a lumpy chop, but the power is unreal. Expert only. Tuesday the 14th drops to 8ft with a light cross-shore.

Another Clean Window – Thursday 16th and Friday 17th July

Thursday the 16th: gentle cross-offshore from the NE in the morning, 5ft SW swell, 15 seconds, clean. Afternoon has a gentle offshore from the north, 5ft SW swell – clean and smooth. Friday the 17th is even better: offshore north winds at 12 mph, 6ft SW swell in the afternoon, 18-second period, energy 1946. A standout session.

The Big Finale – Saturday 18th and Tuesday 21st July

Saturday the 18th sees offshore winds at 22 mph from the NNW, 10ft swell from the WSW, 17-second period, and a massive energy of 9713 (strong). That’s a true groundswell on a reef. Only for experts. Tuesday the 21st is similar: offshore at 22 mph, 10ft SW swell, 18-second period, energy 6132. Both are big-wave days.

The Best of the Bunch

For clean, manageable fun, lock in Thursday the 9th through Friday the 10th, and then Friday the 17th. For the big-wave crew, Saturday the 18th is the one, but it’s far out so keep checking.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Fri morning, strong winds from the WSW by Sat morning).

Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
3
2
3
4
4
3
4
4
1
1
0
0
1
2
2
3
6
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.3
SW
18
2.4
SW
18
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.4
SW
15
1.1
SW
18
1.9
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
SW
9
2.5
SW
12
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
16
3.5
SW
19
3
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
886
1055
1112
3483
2355
1532
844
777
1764
1232
1138
736
2392
1185
1771
2866
2774
3606
3827
7741
5562
Wind (km/h)
25
ENE
20
ENE
20
ENE
15
ENE
10
E
15
ENE
10
N
10
NW
15
N
20
NNW
20
NNW
30
NW
40
W
40
WSW
35
WSW
35
W
35
W
30
WSW
30
WSW
25
WSW
20
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
5:03PM0.75m
6:51AM0.71m
5:04PM0.64m
8:06AM0.78m
9:43AM0.87m
11:10AM0.97m
12:14PM1.07m
1:22AM0.26m
1:06PM1.16m
1:50AM0.30m
Low Tide
11:07AM0.44m
11:54PM0.26m
12:23PM0.52m
00:07AM0.25m
00:21AM0.23m
00:38AM0.23m
1:01AM0.23m
9:31PM0.21m
3:57AM0.24m
9:29PM0.18m
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:30
7:30
7:30
7:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:25
 mm
2
3
2
Temp °C
13
14
13
13
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
13
14
15
14
14
14
14
15
Feels °C
8
10
9
9
12
11
12
12
11
10
10
10
5
5
6
8
7
7
8
9
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.3
SW
14
2.4
SW
18
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.4
SW
15
1.3
SW
15
1.9
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
0.3
SW
19
0.8
SSW
18
1.7
SSW
19
3.5
SW
19
3
SW
17
Energy kJ
886
1055
746
3483
2355
1532
844
777
1764
1232
1138
736
59
348
1920
7741
5562
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
18
0.6
SW
20
1.1
SW
18
0.2
SSW
22
0.4
SSW
19
1.3
SSW
19
Energy kJ
1112
239
702
45
148
1135
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
22
Energy kJ
476
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
E
4
0.5
ENE
4
0.4
E
3
0.6
NNW
4
0.7
NW
4
0.9
WNW
4
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
SW
9
2.5
SW
12
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
16
Energy kJ
10
9
3
13
17
31
2392
1185
1771
2866
2774
3606
3827
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
2
1
4
1
1
1
9
1
1
4
Distance (km)
13
13
3
3
3
3
0
0
6
0
0
11
1034
729
1034
1200
1326
729
1189
1189
11
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
2
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
5
7
6
5
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
5
5
9
9
7
5
6
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
7
9
8
9
7
7
6
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
9
9
7
5
6
  • 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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