Surf Forecasts:
Desperation Point surf forecast from 16 Oct 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 23 Oct, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 23 Oct, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, WSW swell with 1,532 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 17 Oct, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period with WSW 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 Saturday (Oct 17) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Oct 23) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Oct 20) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sat 17th Oct) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Fri 23rd Oct) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Fri 23rd Oct) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the W by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 16 | Saturday 17 | Sunday 18 | Monday 19 | Tuesday 20 | Wednesday 21 | Thursday 22 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2415 | 1103 | 358 | 483 | 414 | 205 | 289 | 280 | 232 | 373 | 741 | 295 | 376 | 531 | 654 | 627 | 1217 | 1178 | 1055 | 808 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:08AM2.64m | 2:32PM2.70m | 3:05AM2.48m | 3:32PM2.55m | 4:15AM2.38m | 4:45PM2.47m | 5:24AM2.36m | 5:56PM2.49m | 6:30AM2.41m | 6:56PM2.60m | 7:29AM2.53m | 7:46PM2.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:08PM0.91m | 8:23AM0.89m | 8:59PM1.06m | 9:15AM1.04m | 10:00PM1.15m | 10:20AM1.13m | 11:09PM1.15m | 11:35AM1.12m | 00:20AM1.05m | 12:44PM1.00m | 1:22AM0.87m | 1:41PM0.82m | 2:11AM0.65m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 7:43 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | SW 15 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 8 |
| kJ | 2233 | 1069 | 218 | 483 | 414 | 205 | 289 | 280 | 158 | 318 | 741 | 220 | 376 | 336 | 223 | 616 | 390 | 318 | 219 | 808 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 9 | WSW 6 | SSE 8 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | N 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | W 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | S 9 | W 24 | W 22 | W 22 | SW 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 289 | 77 | 26 | 53 | 7 | 61 | 232 | 4 | 272 | 295 | 8 | 123 | 392 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 162 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 9 | SE 5 | SSE 9 | W 19 | S 8 | SW 12 | S 15 | S 17 | W 22 | N 13 | N 13 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | W 20 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 17 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 68 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | — | WSW 8 | — | NNE 3 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — |
| kJ | 2415 | 1103 | 358 | — | — | — | — | 30 | — | 373 | — | 1 | 117 | 531 | 654 | 627 | 1217 | 1178 | 1055 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 292 | 31 | 35 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 31 | 56 | 149 | 62 | 1 | 90 | 215 | 149 | 222 | 215 | 215 | 222 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 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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