Desperation Point Surf Break

Desperation Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Issued: 5 am 05 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: Wednesday 8 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 6,093 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with W 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 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 16 days are 5.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 10s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 5th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf 9AM (Wed 8th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 6PM (Thu 9th Jul)18ft (5.5m) 10s

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 31mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the ESE by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSE on Wed morning, near gales from the SSE by Thu night).

Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
0
5
4
3
3
4
!
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
WNW
10
0.8
WSW
16
2.4
W
11
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
14
3.5
S
8
3
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
8
4.5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
4
SSE
9
1.6
WSW
16
1.4
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
942
311
1344
2544
3326
3226
2007
1370
895
1364
1091
1833
3560
4891
4480
2390
1305
933
561
561
1094
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
10
W
20
E
50
ESE
20
E
20
ESE
15
E
20
SE
10
SE
30
S
25
S
50
S
50
SSE
60
SSE
60
SSE
50
SSE
45
SE
35
SE
40
SE
40
SE
25
ESE
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
6:58PM2.92m
Low Tide
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
12:31PM0.74m
1:13AM0.75m
rain showers
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
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>
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
 mm
1
6
11
11
2
1
2
6
5
1
Temp °C
13
12
11
11
12
10
12
12
12
13
13
12
12
12
11
11
10
10
10
10
9
Feels °C
9
9
8
1
7
5
8
8
9
7
8
4
2
1
-1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
WNW
10
1.4
W
9
2.4
W
11
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.8
S
8
1.2
SW
13
1.2
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
12
2.2
WSW
15
2.1
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
17
1.6
WSW
16
1.4
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
16
Energy kJ
942
311
1344
2544
3326
3226
2007
1370
422
509
437
723
2325
1874
1193
1146
1305
933
561
561
1094
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
WSW
18
1.3
NNW
9
1
WSW
15
0.6
N
7
2.2
SSE
9
1.8
N
9
1
N
8
0.6
N
8
1.5
WSW
14
0.4
SW
19
0.7
SW
17
0.3
WSW
22
1
WSW
19
1.1
SW
12
0.4
WSW
20
0.7
WSW
18
Energy kJ
443
261
422
32
724
529
130
41
895
95
309
91
742
319
149
280
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WSW
16
0.6
NNW
8
1.5
N
8
1.1
SSE
7
0.3
NNW
8
0.3
NNW
8
0.2
W
21
Energy kJ
302
50
302
128
12
12
36
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
N
8
0.4
ESE
3
2.5
SSE
8
2.5
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
7
0.9
SSE
6
1.1
SSE
7
2.2
SSE
8
3.5
S
8
3
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
8
4.5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
4
SSE
9
3
SSE
8
2.5
SSE
8
2.1
SSE
7
2.3
SSE
7
2.2
SSE
8
Energy kJ
156
3
881
1051
138
53
114
585
1364
1091
1833
3560
4891
4480
2390
1252
848
432
545
557
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
1
6
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
7
5
4
3
5
4
4
4
4
Distance (km)
64
191
10
198
10
10
7
35
0
47
56
153
40
148
164
149
39
31
31
35
31
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
6
5
4
4
4
3
3
7
5
5
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
5
5
6
5
4
4
4
3
3
4
7
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
5
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
6
6
5
5
4
6
5
5
  • 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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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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