Desperation Point Surf Forecast

/ Taranaki (31 surf breaks) /

New Zealand (466 surf breaks) / Lat Long: (39.47° S 173.86° E)

Surf Forecasts:

Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand

12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Friday 19 Sep 2025 NZST

Forecast 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 13.9° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Desperation Point this week:

The surf forecast for Desperation Point over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 19) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.7m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 12 days are 7.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 26) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 21) at 3PM.

Wave Type	Time (NZST) & Date	Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)	12PM (Fri 19th Sep)	10ft (3.0m) 13s
Best Surf	12PM (Fri 19th Sep)	10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful	3AM (Fri 26th Sep)	23ft (7.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 12 days.

Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent

12 Days Hourly

Print Table

	Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Fri night, strong winds from the N by Sun morning).									Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 66mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Mon morning, light winds from the NNW by Wed morning).
	Friday 19			Saturday 20			Sunday 21			Monday 22			Tuesday 23			Wednesday 24			Thursday 25
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Rating (10 max)	!	!	4	3	1	0	0	0	!	1	2	2	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	!	0
Swell Height Map See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WNW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	W
Period(s) (?)	14	13	12	12	11	10	16	15	11	16	14	13	13	12	12	13	13	14	14	8	11
Wave Graph (?)
kJ (?)	3478	2676	1786	1160	691	241	102	144	2592	1165	1752	1401	953	762	813	1011	1011	1083	902	1375	7895
Wind (km/h)	SE	SE	ESE	NNW	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	NNE	N	NNW	N	NNW	NNW	NNE	N	NNW	W
Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross- off	cross	cross- off	cross	cross	cross- off	cross- off	cross	on
High Tide / height (m)			8:16PM 3.06	8:38AM 2.98		8:56PM 3.16	9:17AM 3.09		9:33PM 3.22	9:51AM 3.16		10:06PM 3.24	10:24AM 3.19		10:38PM 3.22	10:55AM 3.18		11:08PM 3.15	11:26AM 3.13		11:39PM 3.05
Low Tide / height (m)		2:06PM 0.64	2:29AM 0.54		2:48PM 0.47		3:08AM 0.39	3:26PM 0.35		3:44AM 0.30	4:00PM 0.31		4:18AM 0.26	4:33PM 0.32		4:51AM 0.27	5:06PM 0.40		5:23AM 0.35	5:38PM 0.51

	Friday 19			Saturday 20			Sunday 21			Monday 22			Tuesday 23			Wednesday 24			Thursday 25
Sunrise	6:18	-	-	6:18	-	-	6:16	-	-	6:13	-	-	6:13	-	-	6:11	-	-	6:09	-	-
Sunset	-	6:16	-	-	6:17	-	-	6:19	-	-	6:20	-	-	6:21	-	-	6:22	-	-	6:22	-

Rain (mm)	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	6	7	23	3	-	1	-	-	26	4	2	2
Temp. °C	10	10	9	12	13	12	14	14	14	13	14	14	15	16	15	17	16	14	15	14	11
Feels °C (?)	3	3	5	6	7	6	5	5	6	6	8	8	12	15	14	14	14	12	10	10	2

Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)

Recent Eyeball Surf Reports for Taranaki

Wind Update The wind is still cross-off at Desperation Point (light winds from the SE at Tumahu wx 22 km from Desperation Point). 2.9m 13s groundswell from the WSW with a 1.7m 7s swell from the SSE and a 1.4m 10s swell from the NW. 3 swells combining so expect closeout sets.
47 minutes ago Desperation Point

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22 km away, 47 min ago

19 km/h

0.0

13.9

Air / Water (°C)

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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 12 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.