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Surf Forecasts:

Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Thursday 12 Mar 2026 NZDT
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
18.0° C
 (Which is slightly cooler than normal)

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 Thursday (Mar 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 12s period. 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Mar 16) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 10s period and expected on Friday (Mar 13) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Thu 12th Mar)2.5ft (0.7m) 12s
Best Surf 7AM (Sun 15th Mar)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 4PM (Mon 16th Mar)8ft (2.4m) 16s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
16 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Sat afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
12
Friday
13
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wed
18
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
!
!
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.9
SW
0.7
SW
0.6
NW
0.6
WSW
0.5
SW
0.4
WSW
0.6
WSW
2.1
WSW
1.8
SSE
2.5
WSW
3
WSW
3.5
WSW
2.5
WSW
2.1
WSW
2.4
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.2
SW
1
SW
1
SW
1
SW
Period(s) (?)121214121212138810101091416161514141313
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)205140147966652113536356140518551939106716992682811770581384321321
Wind
(km/h)
10
ESE
5
NNE
10
NW
10
NE
15
NNE
20
N
15
WSW
35
SE
35
SSE
20
SSE
0
NE
15
WSW
10
NW
20
W
25
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
W
15
NW
20
NW
25
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		crossoffcross-
off		cross-
off		oncross-
off		crosscrossglassoncross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:26AM
2.44
5:09PM
2.34
5:55AM
2.41
6:30PM
2.35
7:11AM
2.50
7:38PM
2.47
8:06AM
2.67
8:32PM
2.63
8:51AM
2.87
9:16PM
2.83
9:30AM
3.07
9:56PM
3.02
10:08AM
3.25
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:03PM
1.10
10:51AM
1.25
11:20PM
1.20
12:18PM
1.25
12:49AM
1.14
1:34PM
1.10
1:56AM
0.97
2:27PM
0.88
2:45AM
0.74
3:09PM
0.64
3:26AM
0.51
3:47PM
0.41
4:03AM
0.31
4:23PM
0.21
Thursday
12
Friday
13
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wed
18
Sunrise-7:18--7:18--7:20--7:20--7:22--7:22--7:24-
Sunset--7:50--7:47--7:46--7:45--7:44--7:42--7:39
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
------8-3------------
Temp. °C151919192222191515151717161717161717161818
Feels °C (?)1218171821211999121615141313131514151515
  • 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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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Desperation Point at:
surf-forecast.com

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.

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