Rhino Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.28° S 136.95° E

Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 pm 10 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rhino Head sea temperature is
15.2° C
0.2° 

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


Rhino Head surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, SW swell with 3,377 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rhino Head this week:

The surf forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rhino Head in the next 16 days are 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Wed 15th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 15s
Best Surf12AM (Wed 15th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 15s
Most Powerful 3AM (Tue 14th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 17s

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


Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break this down in feet and miles per hour for the crew that thinks that way. The story is the same: a rough start, a couple of good windows, and one day that really shines.

We start on Saturday, July 11th, and it’s a mess. The wind is pumping from the WSW at 28 to 31 mph, a strong breeze that’s making a cross-off mess of the waves. The swell is there, 7 ft to 8 ft from the WSW, but it’s short period, around 7 to 10 seconds. The energy numbers are high (603 to 1506), but it’s all wind and chop. Honestly, this is more of a kiteboarding day than a surfing day.

Sunday keeps the pressure on. A fresh breeze out of the west at 22 mph, and the swell picks up period to 12 seconds. The waves are 8 ft from the SW. It’s clean-looking but the wind is still too strong.

Monday, July 13th is where the gear shifts. The wind goes offshore from the west at 22 mph. The swell is a solid 8 ft from the SW, and the period is a very long 16 seconds. The energy is massive at 4122. This is a big, long-period groundswell. That period makes it prone to be a little too straight, but with offshore wind it’ll be clean. That said, 8 ft of that kind of energy is for experienced surfers only.

Tuesday, July 14th is the pick of the first week. The still-long period swell drops to 7 ft to 8 ft from the SSW and SW. The wind is a lighter cross-off, 9 to 16 mph from the SW. The energy is still strong (2617 to 3198), but it’s a more manageable size and the conditions are clean. This is the day to aim for if you can’t wait.

Wednesday, July 15th is a wild card. The swell is down to 5 ft to 5 ft with that same 15-second period. In the afternoon, the wind goes completely glassy. Zero mph. That’s a rare gift. The energy is moderate at 838. If you like small, glassy, long-period waves, be there for the afternoon.

Then we hit a flat spell from Thursday, July 16th to Saturday, July 18th. We’re down to 2 ft to 4 ft, weak swell, energy dropping below 554. Not worth getting wet.

Sunday, July 19th brings a new pulse. Waves 4 ft to 5 ft from the SW, with an insanely long 18 to 19 second period. But the wind is howling from the north-northwest at 25 to 28 mph, offshore. It’s clean but “hard to paddle into.” Energy is moderate-strong at 1188 to 1460. A pretty looking day, but a tough one.

Monday, July 20th is a strong contender. Swell builds back to 7 ft to 8 ft from the WSW and SW. The period drops to 14-16 seconds. Energy is very strong, 2211 to 3408. The wind is a clean cross-off. It’s going to be powerful.

But the best day, without a doubt, is Tuesday, July 21st. The swell is a perfect 6 ft to 6 ft from the SW, with a 12-second period. The combined energy is 1092 to 1422. The wind is offshore and light, 3 to 6 mph from the west and west-southwest. The data says “expect very good surf conditions” and gives it a 3/5 rating. Rhino Head will be clean, lined-up, and fun for everyone who can handle it. That’s your day.

After that, Wednesday, July 22nd and beyond offers a few smaller, cleaner days, but nothing that matches that Tuesday.

So, the call: suffer through the first few days, hit Tuesday July 14th if you’re jonesing, and lock in Tuesday, July 21st as the standout. That’s the day to circle.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Fri night, strong winds from the WSW by Sat afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon night, calm by Tue night).

Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Fri
17
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
1
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SW
14
2.1
WSW
7
2.5
SW
10
2.5
SW
13
2.3
SW
12
2.3
SW
12
2.4
SW
15
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
16
2.3
SW
17
2.3
SW
16
2.1
SSW
16
1.7
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
15
1.4
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
0.9
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
412
469
1506
2132
1670
1670
2328
3252
2941
3074
2761
2206
1423
1042
838
623
476
347
853
933
730
Wind (km/h)
30
NW
45
WSW
50
WSW
40
WSW
35
W
35
W
30
WNW
35
W
35
W
25
WSW
25
SW
15
SW
0
SSE
5
NNE
0
NW
15
NE
20
N
15
NNW
15
NNE
15
NNE
15
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:10AM0.97m
12:14PM1.07m
1:22AM0.26m
1:06PM1.16m
1:50AM0.30m
1:51PM1.21m
2:20AM0.37m
2:32PM1.22m
2:54AM0.45m
3:09PM1.19m
3:30AM0.53m
3:42PM1.12m
Low Tide
00:38AM0.23m
1:01AM0.23m
9:31PM0.21m
3:57AM0.24m
9:29PM0.18m
5:42AM0.21m
9:42PM0.16m
6:52AM0.17m
10:00PM0.16m
7:50AM0.15m
10:20PM0.16m
8:40AM0.16m
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:28
 mm
2
4
1
2
1
3
1
Temp °C
14
13
12
14
15
15
15
15
15
15
14
14
13
13
13
14
15
15
15
14
14
Feels °C
10
3
1
6
8
9
9
8
8
9
10
11
11
12
13
12
11
12
11
10
10
  • 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 Rhino Head Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Rhino Head provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rhino Head can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rhino Head 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 (Rhino Head) 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 Rhino Head 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 Rhino Head, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Yorke Peninsula, consider staying in Kingscote which is 75 km (47 miles) away.

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