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Surf Forecasts:

Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Sunday 18 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Desperation Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
19.1° C
 (Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Desperation Point this week:

The surf forecast for Desperation Point over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 12 days are 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 10s period and expected on Friday (Jan 23) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Wed 21st Jan)2ft (0.6m) 12s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 24th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sat 24th Jan)6ft (1.9m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the ESE by Tue afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Wed night, fresh winds from the SW by Fri night).

Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
4
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.4
SSE
2.5
SSE
2.3
SSE
1.9
SSE
2.2
SSE
1.7
SSE
1.4
SSE
1.7
SSE
1.5
SSE
0.6
SW
0.6
SW
0.5
SW
0.4
WSW
0.5
WSW
0.7
WSW
0.8
WSW
0.8
WSW
2
W
1.7
W
1.9
WSW
2.5
SSE
Period(s) (?)788777667131312222018171688148
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)571746597326408293145230198136132721542212863733304714221393870
Wind
(km/h)
40
ESE
45
SE
40
ESE
40
ESE
40
SE
30
ESE
30
ESE
30
SE
20
ESE
20
ESE
15
ESE
20
E
20
ENE
25
N
30
WNW
30
W
30
W
35
SW
20
SSE
20
SSE
5
E
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		offoffcross-
off		cross-
on		oncross-
on		oncrosscrossglass
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:27AM
3.10
10:48PM
3.00
11:03AM
3.21
11:24PM
3.09
11:39AM
3.29
12:00AM
3.14
12:15PM
3.34
12:36AM
3.15
12:51PM
3.33
1:14AM
3.13
1:28PM
3.28
1:53AM
3.07
2:08PM
3.18
2:36AM
2.98
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:39PM
0.66
4:56AM
0.53
5:15PM
0.57
5:32AM
0.45
5:52PM
0.50
6:08AM
0.41
6:30PM
0.45
6:45AM
0.41
7:10PM
0.44
7:23AM
0.45
7:50PM
0.47
8:05AM
0.54
8:32PM
0.53
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunrise6:16--6:18--6:18--6:20--6:20--6:22--6:22--
Sunset-8:51--8:51--8:50--8:50--8:49--8:47--8:47-
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
Rain (mm)
-------335-13132--1542-
Temp. °C171715171918191816162220212219181816131413
Feels °C (?)88710111214141312212022211614131091111
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Desperation Point surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Desperation Point at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Desperation Point Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Desperation Point provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Desperation Point can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Desperation Point 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 (Desperation Point) 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 Desperation Point 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 Taranaki? If you are looking for accommodation near Desperation Point, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Taranaki, consider staying in New Plymouth which is 52 km (32 miles) away.

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