Desperation Point Surf Break

Desperation Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Issued: 11 pm 20 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
15.8° C

1.1°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 20 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 21 Jun, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 25 Jun, 9PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 7,868 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 21 Jun, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period with W 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 (Jun 21) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 16 days are 6.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 25) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 24) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sun 21st Jun)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 21st Jun)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 25th Jun)20ft (6.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat night, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sat night, calm by Sun night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Sat
27
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
!
1
1
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
!
!
!
!
!
!
3
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)
3
WNW
8
3
W
11
2.5
W
10
2
W
10
0.9
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.2
WSW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.7
SW
14
0.9
WSW
14
4
SSE
9
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
4.5
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
954
2160
1308
753
301
456
463
479
412
431
313
257
189
332
2493
5845
4622
3759
2091
1312
976
Wind (km/h)
40
NW
20
W
20
W
15
SW
5
E
15
SE
5
ENE
10
NE
10
NE
15
ENE
20
ENE
25
ENE
15
ENE
25
ENE
25
N
5
ESE
20
SE
15
SE
25
SE
20
ESE
20
SE
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
2:09AM3.04m
2:38PM2.79m
3:03AM2.86m
3:33PM2.66m
4:00AM2.71m
4:32PM2.58m
5:01AM2.62m
5:42PM2.57m
6:06AM2.60m
6:47PM2.64m
7:04AM2.63m
7:38PM2.76m
7:54AM2.71m
Low Tide
8:30AM0.66m
8:48PM0.79m
9:22AM0.78m
9:45PM0.92m
10:18AM0.87m
10:47PM1.00m
11:21AM0.91m
11:56PM1.02m
12:25PM0.89m
1:00AM0.97m
1:21PM0.83m
1:51AM0.89m
2:08PM0.76m
light rain
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:43
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
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
 mm
2
2
8
4
9
2
1
Temp °C
16
15
14
13
13
13
13
14
15
14
14
13
14
14
14
12
13
13
13
13
14
Feels °C
10
13
11
9
9
9
11
12
13
11
10
8
12
10
10
11
10
10
9
9
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
18
0.4
WSW
17
2.5
W
10
2
W
10
1.2
WNW
9
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.2
WSW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
14
1
N
6
1.4
N
7
1.4
NNE
7
0.9
WSW
14
1
SW
13
1.3
WSW
12
1.3
WSW
12
1.2
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
14
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
Energy kJ
82
119
1308
753
254
456
463
479
412
431
79
212
173
332
336
481
436
458
486
394
388
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
13
0.8
WSW
11
0.9
SW
14
0.9
WNW
9
0.7
WNW
9
0.5
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
8
0.9
N
6
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.7
SW
14
0.8
NW
8
0.9
NNW
8
0.3
NNW
7
0.1
SW
20
0.1
S
19
Energy kJ
88
151
301
143
77
38
21
53
313
257
189
93
91
11
15
7
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
16
0.6
WSW
16
0.7
WSW
6
0.4
WSW
14
0.4
SSE
4
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
15
0.3
WNW
7
0.2
WNW
7
0.1
S
11
0.6
NNW
8
0.7
NNW
7
Energy kJ
105
162
35
79
6
6
4
11
5
2
39
54
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
WNW
8
3
W
11
0.8
SSE
6
0.6
SSE
5
0.5
SE
4
0.6
N
4
0.8
N
5
0.3
NE
2
0.5
E
4
0.1
SE
4
1.2
E
4
1.3
SSE
6
4
SSE
9
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
4.5
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
Energy kJ
954
2160
40
18
7
13
33
1
6
1
55
107
2493
5845
4622
3759
2091
1312
976
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
4
7
5
5
2
4
4
Distance (km)
257
184
184
62
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
64
0
64
83
7
28
7
31
31
28
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
7
5
5
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
1
5
7
5
5
4
4
3
2
2
4
3
4
7
5
5
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
9
5
7
5
7
5
5
5
6
7
6
5
5
7
5
5
6
9
4
  • 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
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Desperation Point:

join our community of surf reporters

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.

Nearest locationNearest