Rhino Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.28° S 136.95° E

Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 pm 05 Sep 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 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 3,022 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m 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 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sun 6th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 14s
Best Surf 3AM (Sun 6th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 14s
Most Powerful 9PM (Wed 9th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s heading our way at Rhino Head. This is a sheltered reef set-up that loves a solid SW swell, with a WSW to WNW offshore being the ticket for clean waves. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet isn't until Sunday the 6th. The morning looks the pick with a clean 6ft SW groundswell, rolling in with a solid 14-second period. The combined energy is pumping (1215), and with a slight air and cross-off wind, it should be a really fun, clean session for a beginner-friendly spot. The afternoon drops a touch to 5ft (924 combined energy), but still clean and good.

Monday the 7th is a write-off, unfortunately. The swell drops to 3ft and the wind goes cross-shore, making for poor conditions. Tuesday the 8th kicks up a bit with a 5ft SSW swell, but the wind is a messy cross-on, so the waves will be lumpy and hard to enjoy. Wednesday the 9th is a big no-go – a 8ft swell with a fresh cross-onshore creates a choppy, lumpy mess, more suited to a kite session than a paddle.

Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th are a bit of a mixed bag of smaller, marginal swells (4ft to 7ft) with onshore or cross-onshore winds, so nothing to get excited about.

Now, let’s look at the standout. The pick of the whole 16-day window is hands down the morning of Tuesday the 15th. We’ve got a 6ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 1776. But the real winner is the wind: glassy. Dead flat. It’s going to be absolutely perfect, clean conditions. If you can get out that morning, do it. This is a top-tier session for a beginner-friendly reef.

The next day, Wednesday the 16th, is still worth a look with 5ft clean waves, but the wind picks up a bit, so it’s not as special.

Looking further ahead, there’s a promising, but less certain, pulse on Sunday the 20th. The morning shows a powerful 8ft SW groundswell with a very long 21-second period, and a massive combined energy of 6166. The wind is a moderate offshore, making for clean, excellent conditions – but that swell size is only for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets even bigger at 12ft (12430 combined energy), but it’s a bit more of a beast. This one is a definite long-range promise, so keep an eye on it.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Tuesday the 15th morning for the glassy, clean perfection. The Sunday the 20th morning is the big, powerful wildcard for the experts. There’s a bit of a gap of poor conditions from the 7th to the 11th, but it clears up nicely after that.

Stay stoked, and I’ll see you in the water.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Tue night, light winds from the ESE by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
0
0
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
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)
2.3
SW
14
1.8
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
1.1
SW
19
1.5
SSW
17
1.5
SSW
16
1.5
SSW
16
2
SSW
19
2.2
SSW
18
2.3
SSW
17
2
SSW
16
1.7
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2110
1215
924
586
282
264
828
1352
1214
1155
2725
2928
2918
2051
1536
874
576
683
788
Wind (km/h)
25
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
15
S
10
SSE
10
SSE
15
ESE
10
SSE
20
SW
30
SSE
30
SE
30
SE
20
SE
15
SE
15
ESE
20
ESE
15
E
10
ESE
15
ENE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
7:40AM0.76m
11:29AM0.78m
12:33PM0.85m
2:08AM0.36m
1:12PM0.89m
1:56AM0.47m
1:43PM0.90m
2:08AM0.60m
2:11PM0.87m
2:29AM0.72m
Low Tide
10:11PM0.02m
9:54PM0.06m
9:04PM0.10m
8:31PM0.11m
6:00AM0.26m
8:23PM0.10m
7:02AM0.17m
8:25PM0.08m
7:47AM0.09m
8:34PM0.06m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:06
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:08
 mm
Temp °C
14
14
14
13
14
14
11
11
13
12
12
13
10
12
13
12
14
15
16
Feels °C
9
11
11
9
12
12
7
8
8
6
6
6
5
9
9
8
11
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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