Desperation Point Surf Break

Desperation Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Issued: 5 pm 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
14.9° 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 4 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: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 3,560 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM. 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 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 12AM.

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 Powerful12AM (Tue 7th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 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 33mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue night, near gales from the SSE by Thu night).

Sat
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
2
3
4
4
5
5
3
3
1
3
2
4
3
3
0
0
0
3
2
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)
1.7
W
11
3
WNW
10
2.5
NW
10
1.6
W
9
2.4
W
11
2.5
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
15
1.7
WSW
14
1.4
SW
14
2.4
S
8
1.1
SW
13
1.4
WSW
12
1.3
WSW
16
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
1.7
WSW
17
1.4
WSW
16
1.4
WSW
16
1.3
WSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
682
2000
1138
404
1271
2553
3326
3560
2034
1261
811
716
382
569
908
1900
1915
1716
969
945
656
Wind (km/h)
35
N
35
NNW
20
NNW
10
N
20
E
15
ENE
5
SE
15
NNE
20
ESE
25
SE
15
SSE
20
SE
15
SE
10
ESE
20
ESE
30
SE
55
SSE
45
SSE
45
SSE
20
SE
25
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
6:01AM2.82m
Low Tide
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
11:57PM0.89m
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:45
7:43
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
5:15
 mm
13
2
2
9
3
4
5
1
1
2
4
Temp °C
13
13
13
12
11
12
13
10
12
12
12
11
11
11
12
13
12
12
12
11
11
Feels °C
6
6
9
9
7
9
11
8
8
7
8
7
7
8
8
7
3
3
4
5
4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
W
11
3
WNW
10
2.5
NW
10
1.6
W
9
2.4
W
11
2.5
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
15
1.7
WSW
14
1.4
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.4
WSW
12
1.5
WSW
11
2.1
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
17
1.4
WSW
16
1.4
WSW
16
1.3
WSW
15
Energy kJ
682
2000
1138
404
1271
2553
3326
3560
2034
1261
811
406
382
569
536
1900
1143
1716
969
945
656
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
22
0.5
WSW
19
0.9
WSW
18
1.3
NNW
8
1
WSW
15
0.8
N
7
2.5
N
10
1.6
NNW
9
1
NNW
8
0.7
NNW
8
0.4
NNW
8
0.2
NNW
8
0.4
SW
19
0.8
WSW
17
1.3
WSW
16
0.8
WSW
19
0.8
WSW
11
0.3
WSW
21
Energy kJ
9
210
443
222
422
62
1334
378
140
62
22
7
95
386
881
450
149
86
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WSW
16
0.7
NNW
8
1.7
S
9
0.4
SSE
4
0.1
W
20
0.1
N
9
0.2
WSW
22
Energy kJ
302
67
442
8
8
1
46
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
N
7
2.5
N
8
0.5
E
3
2.1
SSE
7
0.9
SSE
5
0.7
SE
4
0.8
SSE
4
1.3
SSE
6
2.4
S
8
1.4
S
6
2.2
SSE
7
2.5
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
2.2
SSE
7
2.4
SSE
8
1.7
SSE
7
Energy kJ
430
766
4
419
33
19
19
98
716
156
445
908
1765
1915
929
472
661
277
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
5
5
3
3
4
4
4
Distance (km)
86
103
64
0
0
0
0
0
28
35
35
35
7
0
31
31
111
149
39
31
31
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
4
5
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
5
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
9
6
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
7
5
4
8
4
  • 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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