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Surf Forecasts:

Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Thursday 15 Jan 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
18.9° C
 (Which is slightly warmer than usual)

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 (Jan 15) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 1.8m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 12 days are 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jan 18) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jan 15) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Thu 15th Jan)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Best Surf 7PM (Sun 18th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sun 18th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 8s

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

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

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 43mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the SE by Sat afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds.

Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wed
21
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
3
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.8
WSW
0.7
WSW
0.7
WSW
0.9
SW
0.9
WSW
0.9
WSW
1.1
SW
1.7
SSE
2.1
SSE
2.4
SSE
2.3
SSE
2.5
SSE
2.3
SSE
1.8
SSE
2
SSE
1.6
SSE
0.6
WSW
1.9
SSE
1.7
SSE
0.9
SW
0.8
WSW
Period(s) (?)1010101414131377878877711771313
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)125838530134231338826836362056580060731636120984317301249212
Wind
(km/h)
10
NE
20
N
20
N
10
NNE
15
NNW
5
SW
25
SE
30
SE
35
SE
40
ESE
40
ESE
40
SE
40
ESE
40
ESE
40
SE
25
ESE
25
SE
35
SSE
25
ESE
20
SE
25
SSE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:25AM
2.68
8:42PM
2.63
9:10AM
2.82
9:29PM
2.76
9:49AM
2.97
10:10PM
2.89
10:27AM
3.10
10:48PM
3.00
11:03AM
3.21
11:24PM
3.09
11:39AM
3.29
12:00AM
3.14
12:15PM
3.34
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:07AM
0.96
2:39PM
1.00
2:58AM
0.86
3:23PM
0.89
3:41AM
0.75
4:02PM
0.77
4:19AM
0.63
4:39PM
0.66
4:56AM
0.53
5:15PM
0.57
5:32AM
0.45
5:52PM
0.50
6:08AM
0.41
6:30PM
0.45
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wed
21
Sunrise-6:13--6:13--6:15--6:16--6:18--6:18--6:20-
Sunset--8:52--8:52--8:52--8:51--8:51--8:50--8:50
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
Rain (mm)
8196721---------------
Temp. °C191920182019161717171617151818171817171819
Feels °C (?)181819191920131110108871111121211111314
  • 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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