Desperation Point Surf Forecast

/ Taranaki (31 surf breaks) /

New Zealand (466 surf breaks) / Lat Long: (39.47° S 173.86° E)

Surf Forecasts:

Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand

12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Saturday 13 Sep 2025 NZST

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 13.7° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Desperation Point this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 12 days are 6.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 13) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 18) at 9AM.

Wave Type	Time (NZST) & Date	Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)	-	-
Best Surf	-	-
Most Powerful	9PM (Sat 13th Sep)	20ft (6.0m) 12s

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

Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent

12 Days Hourly

Print Table

	Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sat afternoon, moderate winds from the W by Sun night).											Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Tue afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Wed afternoon).
	Sat 13		Sunday 14			Monday 15			Tuesday 16			Wednesday 17			Thursday 18			Friday 19
	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM
Rating (10 max)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Swell Height Map See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	W	WSW	W	WSW	WNW	W	W	W	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW
Period(s) (?)	10	12	12	12	13	13	13	8	8	9	13	13	14	9	11	11	15	13	13	12	12
Wave Graph (?)
kJ (?)	6157	9212	7944	6037	4480	2953	2860	871	766	678	1699	1806	1997	2632	3561	2764	5927	3676	2587	1426	966
Wind (km/h)	W	W	W	WSW	WSW	W	WNW	W	W	WNW	NW	NNW	NW	NW	WNW	W	W	WSW	WSW	W	W
Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy	on	on	on	on	on	on	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross	cross	cross	cross	cross- on	cross- on	on	on	on	on	on
High Tide / height (m)		1:49AM 2.92		2:25PM 2.85		3:02AM 2.70	3:47PM 2.69		4:29AM 2.58	5:19PM 2.67		5:50AM 2.59		6:33PM 2.78	6:58AM 2.70		7:29PM 2.92	7:53AM 2.84		8:16PM 3.06	8:38AM 2.98
Low Tide / height (m)		7:46PM 0.64	8:09AM 0.71		8:50PM 0.88	9:15AM 0.95		10:08PM 1.04	10:42AM 1.07		11:35PM 1.04		12:09PM 1.01	12:49AM 0.91		1:15PM 0.83	1:44AM 0.72		2:06PM 0.64	2:29AM 0.54

	Sat 13		Sunday 14			Monday 15			Tuesday 16			Wednesday 17			Thursday 18			Friday 19
Sunrise	-	-	6:26	-	-	6:26	-	-	6:24	-	-	6:22	-	-	6:20	-	-	6:18	-	-	6:18
Sunset	6:12	-	-	6:13	-	-	6:14	-	-	6:15	-	-	6:15	-	-	6:15	-	-	6:16	-	-

Rain (mm)	1	4	2	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	1	3	1	-	-	-	-
Temp. °C	12	12	13	13	12	13	13	13	14	14	14	15	15	15	13	13	12	13	13	12	13
Feels °C (?)	2	4	6	6	6	8	8	8	9	10	11	9	9	9	8	7	6	6	7	6	9

Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)

Recent Eyeball Surf Reports for Taranaki

Wind Update The wind is still cross-on at Desperation Point (fresh winds from the SW at Tumahu wx 22 km from Desperation Point). A 5.3m groundswell from the WSW is too big for here
1 hour 47 minutes ago Desperation Point

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22 km away, 1 h 47 min ago

34 km/h

0.0

13.7

Air / Water (°C)

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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 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.