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Desperation Point Surf Forecast
/ Taranaki (31 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Wednesday 20 May 2026 NZSTForecast 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
16.5° 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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 20s. 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 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (May 27) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 20th May) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sun 24th May) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 24th May) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | Sunday 24 | Monday 25 | Tuesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 14 | W 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | |
277 | 219 | 189 | 99 | 56 | 150 | 480 | 478 | 388 | 692 | 679 | 620 | 419 | 921 | 1339 | 934 | 763 | 388 | 193 | 96 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | |
High Tide | 12:10PM3.15m | 00:37AM3.27m | 1:09PM2.99m | 1:36AM3.10m | 2:12PM2.83m | 2:40AM2.94m | 3:15PM2.71m | 3:45AM2.82m | 4:17PM2.63m | 4:50AM2.75m | 5:21PM2.61m | 5:51AM2.73m | 6:26PM2.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:23PM0.39m | 7:00AM0.51m | 7:19PM0.58m | 8:00AM0.66m | 8:18PM0.74m | 9:02AM0.77m | 9:22PM0.86m | 10:04AM0.83m | 10:28PM0.92m | 11:08AM0.84m | 11:35PM0.91m | 12:10PM0.78m | 00:38AM0.84m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:24 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — |
 | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 14 | W 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | N 6 | WSW 12 | SW 12 |
 kJ | 277 | 219 | 189 | 99 | 56 | 150 | 480 | 478 | 388 | 692 | 679 | 620 | 336 | 921 | 1339 | 934 | 763 | 388 | 91 | 96 | 36 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | W 20 | W 20 | WSW 19 | W 15 | WNW 11 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 11 | WSW 19 | SW 12 | SSE 5 | NNW 8 | S 18 | S 13 | WSW 12 | S 12 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 1 | 7 | 8 | 34 | 17 | 25 | 66 | 32 | 95 | 46 | 27 | 46 | 419 | 330 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 193 | 3 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | — | W 16 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | SW 15 | N 14 | NNW 12 | S 5 | SSE 5 | NNW 11 | NNW 9 | S 19 | — | N 13 | S 12 | W 16 | S 12 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 5 | 13 | 30 | 73 | 100 | 56 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 19 | 38 | 15 | 7 | — | 4 | 11 | 5 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 3 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — | SE 5 | SSE 5 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | N 7 | N 8 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 28 | 188 | 212 | 121 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 41 | 14 | — | 4 | 13 | 28 | — | 205 | 733 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 193 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 215 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
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.
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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