Desperation Point Surf Break

Desperation Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Issued: 5 pm 30 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
15.3° 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 30 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 7,581 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 1 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Jul 01) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. 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 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 3PM. 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 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 1st Jul)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 4th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 3PM (Mon 6th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 17s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Sun morning, strong winds from the SE by Mon morning).

Tue
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
!
!
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)
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.6
WSW
12
0.5
SW
13
0.4
WSW
12
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
14
1
W
12
2
W
9
3
WNW
11
2.5
WNW
10
2
W
11
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
17
3.5
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
463
352
299
299
172
154
103
80
61
40
51
278
721
2253
1237
935
4242
4908
7581
5193
3072
Wind (km/h)
5
SE
10
NNW
10
NW
10
WNW
5
NNE
15
N
15
NW
15
N
20
N
20
NNW
25
N
35
NNE
40
N
20
NW
10
NW
20
N
15
ENE
40
ESE
60
SE
70
SE
60
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:10PM3.16m
10:31AM3.02m
10:46PM3.20m
11:06AM3.03m
11:21PM3.21m
11:43AM3.02m
11:58PM3.19m
12:21PM2.97m
00:36AM3.13m
1:00PM2.91m
1:15AM3.05m
1:43PM2.84m
1:59AM2.97m
Low Tide
4:04PM0.60m
4:23AM0.67m
4:39PM0.57m
4:59AM0.65m
5:15PM0.56m
5:37AM0.64m
5:51PM0.58m
6:16AM0.65m
6:29PM0.62m
6:57AM0.66m
7:10PM0.69m
7:39AM0.68m
7:54PM0.76m
8:23AM0.71m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
light rain
mod rain
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:09
5:10
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
5:13
5:14
 mm
4
5
2
1
9
3
16
8
Temp °C
10
10
11
12
10
11
11
11
13
13
12
13
13
13
14
15
12
11
11
10
8
Feels °C
8
8
8
10
8
7
8
7
8
8
8
6
5
9
11
11
9
2
-1
-4
-4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.6
WSW
12
0.5
SW
13
0.4
WSW
12
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
14
1
W
12
2
W
9
3
WNW
11
2.5
WNW
10
2
W
11
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
17
3.5
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
15
Energy kJ
463
352
299
299
172
154
103
80
61
40
51
278
721
2253
1237
935
4242
4908
7581
5193
3072
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSE
4
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
12
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
10
0.1
SW
4
0.2
WSW
4
0.2
WSW
16
0.3
W
11
0.4
W
9
0.8
W
8
0.1
W
22
0.5
WSW
19
0.9
WSW
18
0.9
WSW
16
0.9
NNW
6
0.6
N
7
0.9
SSE
7
0.6
S
6
0.4
SSE
7
Energy kJ
8
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
26
20
27
84
9
214
443
380
70
35
79
26
16
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
19
0.2
S
15
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
10
0.1
SW
18
0.1
W
15
0.4
SW
13
0.1
SW
24
0.6
NNW
7
Energy kJ
7
18
6
2
12
4
44
23
41
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SE
4
0.3
W
4
0.6
N
3
0.9
NNW
4
1
NNW
5
1.7
N
6
2.5
N
7
0.8
N
7
1.6
NW
9
0.4
SSE
5
Energy kJ
14
2
7
21
44
185
743
67
396
9
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
4
4
5
8
5
4
6
Distance (km)
0
1
1
28
0
0
1
12
46
103
1
86
252
64
1
1
7
148
111
111
148
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
4
4
5
8
9
9
6
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
2
3
4
4
5
9
9
9
9
9
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
5
5
8
7
5
9
5
7
5
7
6
5
9
9
9
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)
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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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