Surf Forecasts:
Desperation Point surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 7,632 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 4s. 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 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, strong winds from the NNW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sun night, light winds from the NW by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 756 | 756 | 530 | 347 | 253 | 198 | 775 | 4190 | 3584 | 5288 | 7632 | 5956 | 4493 | 3385 | 1504 | 1856 | 1609 | 1658 | 1172 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:15AM2.47m | 3:54PM2.46m | 4:34AM2.38m | 5:25PM2.44m | 5:55AM2.39m | 6:37PM2.54m | 7:00AM2.50m | 7:29PM2.69m | 7:52AM2.65m | 8:12PM2.86m | 8:35AM2.81m | 8:50PM3.03m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:09PM1.12m | 9:30AM1.08m | 10:18PM1.24m | 10:48AM1.18m | 11:46PM1.24m | 12:15PM1.14m | 00:58AM1.12m | 1:18PM0.99m | 1:48AM0.95m | 2:06PM0.81m | 2:28AM0.76m | 2:45PM0.62m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 18 | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 756 | 756 | 530 | 347 | 85 | 198 | 560 | 153 | 176 | — | — | 5956 | 4493 | 1559 | 1504 | 603 | 1609 | 1658 | 1172 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 19 | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 18 | S 17 | WSW 19 |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 253 | 28 | 142 | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 72 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | — | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | — | WSW 15 | W 7 | WSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | — |
| kJ | 31 | 29 | 42 | 160 | 29 | 86 | 775 | 4190 | 3584 | 5288 | 7632 | 5237 | — | 3385 | 348 | 1856 | 240 | 176 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 62 | 62 | 215 | 215 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 205 | 270 | 302 | 206 | 215 | 62 | 215 | 215 | 90 | 215 | 1 | 1 |
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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