Rhino Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.28° S 136.95° E

Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rhino Head sea temperature is
14.9° C
0.3° 

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 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, SW swell with 2,872 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 24s. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sat 22nd Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Thu 27th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 18s
Most Powerful 6PM (Thu 27th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s cooking for Rhino Head.

The next couple of days are kicking off with a decent pulse of long-period SW groundswell. The ocean’s got some real grunt in it, with combined swell energy pushing over 1300. We’re looking at waves in the 5-6 ft range. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, so the lines should be clean. This is about as good as it gets for the beginner-friendly reef setup at Rhino Head, so Saturday the 22nd is your clear standout.

You’ll feel that the water temp is about average for this time of year.

Sunday the 23rd sees the swell ease slightly, but still 5-5 ft with that long 16-17 second period. The wind swings around nicely – a glassy morning on the 24th with a small 3 ft leftover swell. Those are your best windows for a fun, manageable wave.

The middle of the first week gets ugly. Strong, fresh winds from the SSW hit on Tuesday the 25th, making everything lumpy and cross. Combined energy drops, but conditions are blown out. Avoid that.

Wait for Wednesday the 26th. A window of light offshore NW wind shows up in the morning. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the SW, with 13-second period. It’s clean, it’s small, and it’s rideable. Not a huge standout, but a solid session if you’re keen.

Thursday afternoon the 27th throws in a bigger pulse: 7 ft with a very long 19-second period from the SW. Combined energy jumps to 2818. This is powerful, clean surf but the cross-off wind is moderate. For a break that’s sheltered and geared toward beginners, 7 ft+ starts to get punchy – more suited to experienced surfers, and the long period might make it race a bit at a reef. Still, the quality is there.

Friday the 28th is a write-off with the SSW winds returning and the swell messy at 6-7 ft.

Then, a real second-week standout. Skip the grumpy stuff at the end of August and look to Thursday the 3rd of September. The afternoon session looks prime: a clean, 5 ft SW swell with 14-second period and a light cross-off breeze from the NW. Combined swell energy is 1022 – moderate but well-formed. This is a long-range call, but the conditions line up for a clean, fun afternoon.

Friday the 4th of September also looks good, with glassy conditions in the afternoon on the same 5 ft SW swell. That’s a close second.

To be honest, you’ve got a few windows here. The best of the bunch are Saturday the 22nd for the biggest, cleanest swell, and Thursday the 3rd of September for that sneaky clean afternoon. There are gaps of blown-out days between them, but when it’s on at Rhino Head, it’s on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 11°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Mon night, light winds from the NW by Wed morning).

Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
2
2
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
SW
16
1.7
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
17
1.4
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
0.9
SW
14
0.7
SW
14
0.7
SW
13
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
14
1.2
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.6
SSW
15
1
SW
14
2
SW
19
2.2
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1532
1306
1140
1045
1433
1018
496
297
191
178
843
701
589
437
238
144
407
2818
2846
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
15
SW
15
WSW
5
E
15
NNE
5
N
15
ENE
5
ESE
30
E
30
SSE
30
SSW
30
SSW
15
SSW
5
NW
15
NW
15
NNE
25
N
20
NNW
20
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:29AM0.68m
12:20PM0.72m
12:56PM0.79m
3:38AM0.37m
1:22PM0.86m
2:36AM0.40m
1:44PM0.90m
2:26AM0.46m
2:05PM0.93m
2:32AM0.53m
Low Tide
10:26PM0.13m
10:07PM0.15m
9:39PM0.15m
9:15PM0.15m
5:30AM0.36m
9:03PM0.14m
6:37AM0.29m
8:59PM0.13m
7:15AM0.22m
9:00PM0.11m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:54
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:58
5:58
 mm
2
12
13
2
Temp °C
15
14
14
13
15
15
16
14
12
14
14
14
13
13
13
13
16
18
14
Feels °C
11
12
12
12
13
14
13
13
7
8
8
8
9
10
11
10
10
14
10
  • Map Icons:
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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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