Surf Forecasts:
Desperation Point surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with 7,101 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Desperation Point in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperation Point over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the SE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu night, strong winds from the NW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SSE 8 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1143 | 994 | 1042 | 763 | 1014 | 1629 | 1428 | 1227 | 850 | 805 | 472 | 530 | 347 | 229 | 366 | 1208 | 1405 | 1494 | 2925 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:52AM3.07m | 1:14PM2.92m | 1:30AM2.85m | 1:55PM2.75m | 2:15AM2.65m | 2:45PM2.58m | 3:15AM2.47m | 3:54PM2.46m | 4:34AM2.38m | 5:25PM2.44m | 5:55AM2.39m | 6:37PM2.54m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:13AM0.52m | 7:30PM0.73m | 7:52AM0.71m | 8:15PM0.93m | 8:35AM0.90m | 9:09PM1.12m | 9:30AM1.08m | 10:18PM1.24m | 10:48AM1.18m | 11:46PM1.24m | 12:15PM1.14m | 00:58AM1.12m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | |  |  |  | |  | |
 | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 19 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 1143 | 994 | 1042 | 763 | 722 | 1629 | 1428 | 1227 | 850 | 805 | 472 | 530 | 347 | 229 | 299 | 145 | 211 | 196 | 2925 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | S 16 | SSE 5 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | WSW 19 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 |
| kJ | 10 | 5 | 6 | 290 | 437 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 35 | 61 | 182 | 1042 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | — | — | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | — | — | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 4 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 490 | 1014 | 223 | — | — | 27 | 45 | 31 | 38 | 145 | 224 | 366 | 1208 | 1405 | 1494 | 242 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 62 | 31 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 40 | 222 | 83 | 83 | 215 | 215 | 90 | 266 | 206 | 270 | 270 | 198 |
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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