Desperation Point Surf Break

Desperation Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Issued: 11 pm 24 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
15.6° C

1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year

Desperation Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Desperation Point surf forecast from 24 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 27 Jun, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 26 Jun, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 6,700 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 27 Jun, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with SSE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Desperation Point this week:

The surf forecast for Desperation Point over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jun 27) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 16 days are 5.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jun 26) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jun 25) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Sat 27th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Best Surf12PM (Sat 27th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 3AM (Fri 26th Jun)18ft (5.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 8°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Wed night, gales from the SSE by Thu night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds.

Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wed
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
0
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
3
WSW
13
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
3
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
0.9
WSW
15
1.1
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.2
WSW
14
1.1
SW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
228
450
3115
5286
4610
1775
2657
1553
1518
866
382
503
834
607
509
486
523
456
299
245
241
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
40
SE
55
SSE
65
SSE
55
SSE
35
S
50
SSE
45
SSE
40
SE
35
SE
25
ESE
25
SE
30
ESE
25
ESE
35
SE
25
ESE
25
ESE
25
SE
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
SE
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
6:06AM2.60m
6:47PM2.64m
7:04AM2.63m
7:38PM2.76m
7:54AM2.71m
8:21PM2.89m
8:38AM2.81m
8:59PM3.00m
9:18AM2.90m
9:35PM3.10m
9:55AM2.97m
10:10PM3.16m
10:31AM3.02m
Low Tide
11:56PM1.02m
12:25PM0.89m
1:00AM0.97m
1:21PM0.83m
1:51AM0.89m
2:08PM0.76m
2:33AM0.81m
2:49PM0.69m
3:11AM0.75m
3:27PM0.64m
3:48AM0.70m
4:04PM0.60m
4:23AM0.67m
4:39PM0.57m
light rain
light rain
mod rain
mod rain
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:09
5:09
5:10
 mm
1
3
8
8
1
12
2
Temp °C
14
12
9
10
9
9
10
11
11
11
11
12
11
11
12
10
10
10
8
8
9
Feels °C
12
5
-2
-3
-3
-2
0
2
3
3
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
3
4
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
NNW
9
1.4
NNW
8
3
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
13
2.4
WSW
12
2.1
WSW
12
1.6
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
13
1.5
WSW
11
1
WSW
10
1.1
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.2
WSW
14
1.1
SW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
Energy kJ
560
290
3115
2397
1613
1177
784
630
610
543
196
503
834
607
509
486
523
456
299
245
241
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
0.6
NNW
8
0.9
WSW
15
0.9
WSW
10
0.3
WSW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
18
0.2
WSW
18
0.5
S
5
0.3
SSE
4
Energy kJ
228
450
48
382
164
59
68
5
7
31
11
3
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SE
5
0.9
W
11
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
13
Energy kJ
3
184
6
6
6
4
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
ESE
4
1.6
SSE
5
3.5
SSE
9
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
3
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
1.5
SSE
7
1.2
SSE
6
1
SSE
5
1.1
SE
5
1.4
SSE
6
1.3
SSE
6
1
SE
5
1
SE
5
0.9
SE
5
0.6
SE
4
0.4
SE
4
Energy kJ
11
130
2072
5286
4610
1775
2657
1553
1518
866
225
100
44
57
126
149
53
43
35
15
5
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
4
3
4
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
Distance (km)
0
31
48
151
164
149
149
39
39
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
28
10
7
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
6
4
9
5
5
5
5
4
4
3
4
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
5
5
5
5
5
7
5
6
5
9
5
5
9
6
6
7
5
6
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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 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 16 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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