Desperation Point Surf Break

Desperation Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Issued: 11 pm 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
14.8° C

Slightly warmer than usual

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 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 4,944 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with WNW 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) 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 2.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 04) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sun 5th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf12AM (Sun 5th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 6th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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 47mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Mon night, near gales from the SSE by Thu morning).

Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Fri
10
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
!
2
2
3
!
!
!
3
2
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
14
0.9
W
12
1.7
W
11
3
WNW
10
1.7
W
10
2.5
NW
8
1.8
WSW
14
3
WSW
13
3
W
16
3
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
15
2.2
SW
14
1.8
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
13
3
S
8
3
SSE
8
4
SSE
9
4
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
53
229
682
2242
573
808
1374
2653
4640
3754
2620
1876
1240
772
1350
1313
2518
3086
3151
2223
2214
Wind (km/h)
20
N
25
NNE
35
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
10
NW
20
E
45
ESE
10
NNE
10
ESE
15
ESE
25
SE
20
ESE
25
SE
45
SSE
55
SSE
50
SSE
55
SSE
55
SSE
45
SSE
40
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:58PM3.19m
12:21PM2.97m
00:36AM3.13m
1:00PM2.91m
1:15AM3.05m
1:43PM2.84m
1:59AM2.97m
2:30PM2.77m
2:47AM2.88m
3:21PM2.72m
3:42AM2.82m
4:23PM2.71m
4:46AM2.79m
5:40PM2.76m
Low Tide
6:16AM0.65m
6:29PM0.62m
6:57AM0.66m
7:10PM0.69m
7:39AM0.68m
7:54PM0.76m
8:23AM0.71m
8:43PM0.84m
9:11AM0.75m
9:37PM0.90m
10:05AM0.79m
10:40PM0.93m
11:12AM0.80m
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:43
7:43
7:43
7:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:12
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
 mm
10
1
5
14
17
1
2
1
Temp °C
11
12
13
13
14
11
11
11
12
10
12
13
12
13
12
12
11
10
10
10
10
Feels °C
6
6
6
4
8
9
9
2
10
7
8
8
7
7
4
2
0
-2
-1
0
1
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
W
9
1
W
8
1.7
W
11
2.3
N
8
1.7
W
10
0.9
W
10
1.8
WSW
14
3
WSW
13
3
W
16
3
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
15
2.2
SW
14
1.8
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
13
1.1
SW
13
0.9
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
16
1.5
WSW
15
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
18
1.3
WSW
16
Energy kJ
27
144
682
755
573
171
1374
2653
4640
3754
2620
1876
1240
772
376
251
981
1014
752
1081
915
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
14
0.9
W
12
0.2
WSW
17
0.5
WSW
19
0.9
WSW
18
0.8
WSW
16
1.7
WNW
10
1.8
SSE
8
1.4
SSE
8
1.1
NW
7
0.7
NNW
7
0.5
NNW
7
0.3
SSE
9
0.3
SSE
8
0.3
WSW
19
0.8
WSW
18
0.2
WSW
22
1
WSW
19
0.9
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
11
Energy kJ
51
229
29
210
443
302
567
414
245
118
41
25
17
14
73
390
46
672
207
99
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
15
0.4
SW
13
0.1
W
22
0.6
WSW
14
0.4
W
12
0.9
S
7
0.3
SSE
10
0.3
SSE
9
0.3
NNW
7
0.1
N
7
Energy kJ
4
44
9
125
49
72
18
17
9
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
NW
5
1.3
N
5
2.3
N
7
3
WNW
10
1.8
NNW
9
2.5
NW
8
1
N
6
0.9
SSW
6
0.8
S
5
0.7
S
5
1.1
S
6
3
S
8
3
SSE
8
4
SSE
9
4
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
Energy kJ
53
87
467
2242
486
808
83
50
33
25
80
1350
1313
2518
3086
3151
2223
2214
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
4
2
4
4
1
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
5
Distance (km)
1
86
90
148
90
1
10
198
7
7
10
31
31
31
39
148
164
164
153
149
39
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
4
4
4
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
5
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
4
2
4
4
5
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
9
9
5
6
6
7
7
  • 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
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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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