
Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,499 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s 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 2.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Rhino Head. This is a sheltered reef break that’s fairly consistent and works best on a south-west swell. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but we’ll need to keep an eye on the wind.
The forecast kicks off now, but the first few days are a bit of a write-off. Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August serve up some small, weak swell – around 2ft to 5ft from the south-west. The wind is cross-off, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag with only light to moderate breezes. The wave energy is modest (332), and the conditions are just ordinary. Don’t bother paddling out just yet.
Then we hit a real flat spot. From Sunday the 2nd of August right through to Monday the 10th, the surf is either poor or marginal. The wind gets strong, swinging around from the north-west and even west, with gusts up to 25 mph. The swell does bump up a bit, hitting 6ft on Monday the 3rd, but the wind is all wrong. There’s a promising window on Tuesday the 4th, with a glassy morning and a calm afternoon, but the swell is only 3ft to 4ft, and the energy is low (550). It’s just not enough to get excited about.
Now, the first real standout comes up on Wednesday the 12th of August. The swell picks up to 10ft from the south-west, with a period of 11 seconds. The wind turns offshore from the west-north-west, and it’s a moderate offshore breeze. The water will be a bit colder than average for this time of year, but it’s clean. The wave energy is strong (2023), and it’s described as excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers. This is a bigger swell, over 8ft, so it’s for the experts. That’s the one to circle.
The next big one is on Saturday the 15th of August. We’re looking at a solid 12ft south-west swell, with a long period of 17 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the north-north-west, and the wave energy is very strong (7477). This is a serious groundswell. Because it’s a long-period swell, it might break a bit straight at some beach breaks, but Rhino Head is a reef, so it should handle it well. This is a big-wave day for the experienced crew, but it’s still a week and a half out, so keep an eye on the forecast.
Overall, the best bet is Wednesday the 12th of August – that offshore wind and solid 10ft swell at Rhino Head is the pick of the bunch. The Saturday the 15th is the other big one, but it’s further out and a bit less certain. The rest of the period is full of dodgy wind and poor conditions, so don’t expect much else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the W by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
183 | 276 | 751 | 1055 | 1005 | 657 | 592 | 2259 | 1402 | 1049 | 632 | 405 | 407 | 283 | 325 | 404 | 464 | 447 | 844 | 805 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 3:30AM0.57m | 3:28PM1.00m | 3:52AM0.63m | 3:48PM0.94m | 4:17AM0.69m | 4:06PM0.85m | 4:45AM0.76m | 4:21PM0.75m | 5:18AM0.80m | 4:29PM0.65m | 5:59AM0.83m | 4:19PM0.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:04PM0.16m | 8:44AM0.20m | 10:14PM0.15m | 9:18AM0.21m | 10:24PM0.15m | 9:54AM0.23m | 10:33PM0.15m | 10:33AM0.28m | 10:42PM0.14m | 11:17AM0.35m | 10:51PM0.12m | 12:14PM0.44m | 11:00PM0.11m | |||||||
— | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
183 | 276 | 751 | 1055 | 1005 | 657 | 592 | 412 | 1402 | 1049 | 632 | 405 | 407 | 200 | 325 | 404 | 464 | 447 | 844 | 805 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 13 | ENE 4 | SW 19 | WSW 7 | ENE 4 | NE 5 | — | — | — | SSW 18 | SW 15 | — | SSW 21 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 20 | — | SSW 20 |
149 | 149 | 2 | 96 | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 31 | 145 | — | 283 | 180 | 78 | 23 | 62 | — | 485 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | N 4 | WNW 6 | WSW 7 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 4 | NNE 2 | NNE 3 | NNW 3 | — |
— | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 87 | 302 | 2259 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 9 | 83 | 7 | 83 | 640 | 720 | 535 | 380 | 510 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 83 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











