Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,219 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s check out Rhino Head. It’s a sheltered reef break, good for beginners, but it’s not always working. Water temp is about 59°F, which is normal for the season.
The first week or so is a bit of a frustrating watch. A few pulses of swell come through, but the wind and conditions just don’t line up for a proper session. It’s a lot of marginal surf, and nothing really jumps out until the second week.
On the morning of August 8th, we start to see something worth paddling for. A 6ft swell from the SW with a 19-second period—that’s a long-period groundswell, and it’ll wrap around into this reef nicely. The wind is a cross-off from the WSW at 25 mph, keeping the surface pretty clean. The combined swell energy is strong at 2276. It’s not the best of the run, but it’s a good sign.
The real standout is the afternoon of August 8th. The wind drops to a light offshore from the west at 10 mph, making it glassy. The swell holds at 6ft, still from the SW, with a very long 18-second period. The energy is still strong (2105). This is the one to aim for—clean, lined-up waves with that long-period push. It’s a bit much for beginners, but for anyone with some experience, this is the best session on offer.
The morning of August 10th brings a 7ft SW swell, but the afternoon wind is a strong offshore from the WNW at 45 mph. It’ll be clean, but paddling into a wave in that wind will be a mission. The morning of August 11th has 8ft SW swell with a 13-second period and a fresh cross-off breeze—big and only for the experts.
The morning of August 12th pushes up to 10ft from the SW with a 14-second period. That’s solid, serious size, and the wind is a fresh cross-off from the NNW. Only the most experienced should even look at it.
So, the best call is the afternoon of August 8th—light offshore, 6ft of long-period SW groundswell, and clean. The later days have size but come with heavy wind or are just too big. The first week is mostly a write-off, so be patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Fri morning, fresh winds from the S by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1832 | 2010 | 2954 | 2359 | 1488 | 845 | 465 | 394 | 245 | 212 | 183 | 276 | 954 | 1615 | 1030 | 1953 | 3219 | 1910 | 975 | 642 | 394 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:54PM1.01m | 2:43AM0.41m | 2:20PM1.04m | 2:54AM0.45m | 2:44PM1.05m | 3:10AM0.51m | 3:07PM1.04m | 3:30AM0.57m | 3:28PM1.00m | 3:52AM0.63m | 3:48PM0.94m | 4:17AM0.69m | 4:06PM0.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:37PM0.19m | 6:55AM0.27m | 9:44PM0.17m | 7:35AM0.24m | 9:54PM0.16m | 8:10AM0.21m | 10:04PM0.16m | 8:44AM0.20m | 10:14PM0.15m | 9:18AM0.21m | 10:24PM0.15m | 9:54AM0.23m | 10:33PM0.15m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | |  | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 2954 | 2359 | 1488 | 845 | 465 | 394 | 245 | 212 | 183 | 276 | 954 | 1615 | 1030 | 991 | 3219 | 1910 | 975 | 642 | 394 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 8 | WSW 7 | SW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 13 | SW 21 | NE 4 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 291 | 217 | 149 | 29 | 18 | 20 | 44 | 149 | 145 | 18 | 3 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 23 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 5 | W 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 1832 | 2010 | 2465 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 31 | 88 | 1953 | 2726 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 535 | 1189 | 1028 | 44 | 44 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 83 | 5 | 155 | 30 | 44 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
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.
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