Rhino Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.28° S 136.95° E

Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 pm 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rhino Head sea temperature is
15.0°C
0.5° 

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 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,947 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period with SW 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 (Aug 26) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rhino Head in the next 16 days are 1.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Wed 26th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Best Surf 3PM (Thu 27th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 19s
Most Powerful12AM (Fri 28th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts. The next couple of weeks have a slow start, but there’s a real beauty waiting for us in the second week. We’ve got a mix of wind and swell, so you’ll need to be patient and pick your sessions.

The water temp is sitting around 59°F at Rhino Head, which is just about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

First up, we’ve got a bit of a wait. The beginning of the forecast window looks pretty average. We see some waist-to-chest high SSW swell on the afternoon of the 25th, but that’s blown out with a 19 mph crosswind, so don’t bother.

Things start to look a little better on Wednesday the 26th. The morning at Rhino Head has a clean 4 ft SW swell with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s small, but fun for a beginner log. The afternoon gets even cleaner with a glassy 3 ft and offshore wind. Good for a longboard.

Thursday the 27th offers a slight uptick in quality. The afternoon session sees a 3 ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period and a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is building – you can feel it in the water. It’s not big, but the long period will give it some shape.

Friday the 28th is a write-off thanks to onshore winds. Saturday and Sunday are poor too. There’s a solid four-day stretch of slop from the 29th through the 1st of September.

Now, we start to see some proper potential on Monday the 31st. The afternoon session at Rhino Head has a reasonable 5 ft SSW swell, a 16-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze. That’s a fun, punchy little wave. *But* we do have to talk about crowds – this spot can get busy, so get in early.

The real standout is further out. Wednesday, September 9th is your target. Mark it in your calendar. The morning shows a clean 6 ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a whisper-light offshore breeze. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy is cranking. This is the kind of day that makes a surfer’s spine tingle. The afternoon is even better, with a 6 ft SW swell, 17-second period, and light offshore winds. This is expert territory with the size and power, but for those with the skills, it’ll be mint. Keep in mind that a long period swell like this can tend to close out on the beach, but at a reef setup like Rhino Head, it should line up beautifully.

If you’re a beginner, the 3 ft to 4 ft days between the 26th and 27th are your window. For the more experienced crew, wait for that September 9th window. It’s promising, but it’s a long way out so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
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
2
1
0
1
3
2
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
SSW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.9
SW
14
0.9
SW
19
1.8
SW
18
1.7
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.2
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SSW
20
1
SSW
18
1.5
SSW
18
1.6
SSW
17
1.4
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1142
648
444
331
139
308
546
1947
1580
1115
623
469
257
199
253
688
1400
1438
993
853
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
15
SW
5
NW
10
NW
15
NNE
20
N
15
NNW
10
NE
10
NE
10
E
15
ESE
15
ESE
15
ESE
25
ESE
20
E
15
E
15
E
15
NNE
10
N
20
N
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
2:36AM0.40m
1:44PM0.90m
2:26AM0.46m
2:05PM0.93m
2:32AM0.53m
2:25PM0.93m
2:45AM0.61m
2:45PM0.90m
3:02AM0.70m
3:05PM0.85m
3:22AM0.78m
3:23PM0.77m
Low Tide
9:03PM0.14m
6:37AM0.29m
8:59PM0.13m
7:15AM0.22m
9:00PM0.11m
7:48AM0.16m
9:04PM0.10m
8:19AM0.12m
9:11PM0.08m
8:51AM0.09m
9:19PM0.07m
9:24AM0.09m
9:27PM0.05m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:47
6:45
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:00
 mm
Temp °C
14
13
13
12
12
15
16
17
18
17
17
16
17
16
15
15
14
16
16
18
Feels °C
8
10
10
9
10
11
13
14
16
15
13
13
13
11
12
12
9
13
13
14
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  • 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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