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Surf Forecasts:

Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Thursday 29 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
18.4° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

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 Friday (Jan 30) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 5s 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 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Feb 03) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Feb 02) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Fri 30th Jan)5ft (1.5m) 7s
Best Surf 4PM (Tue 3rd Feb)13ft (4.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 4PM (Tue 3rd Feb)13ft (4.0m) 11s

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 Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Mon morning, calm by Tue night).

Thursday
29
Friday
30
Saturday
31
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wednesday
04
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
4
1
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
SW
0.4
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.3
SSE
0.6
WSW
0.9
SW
0.9
WSW
1.1
SW
1.9
WSW
1
WSW
1
WSW
0.9
WSW
0.9
WSW
0.9
WSW
2.1
NW
3.5
W
4
W
3
WSW
2.1
WSW
1.8
WSW
1.5
WSW
Period(s) (?)1318761511131271111111212791112121110
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)821242941171441692993253902562512232352393861917420226851164787445
Wind
(km/h)
25
WNW
25
WNW
20
W
15
ESE
20
SSE
0
WNW
20
WNW
25
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
15
NNW
40
N
40
NNW
40
W
30
SW
20
SSE
25
ESE
5
NNE
10
NW
5
NNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		crossglasscross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscross-
off		crossononcrosscross-
off		glasscross-
on		cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
7:38PM
2.80
8:24AM
2.99
8:47PM
2.94
9:20AM
3.19
9:44PM
3.10
10:10AM
3.37
10:33PM
3.23
10:56AM
3.47
11:18PM
3.30
11:38AM
3.50
11:59PM
3.30
12:18PM
3.45
12:38AM
3.24
Low Tide
/ height (m)
1:29PM
0.92
2:02AM
0.80
2:39PM
0.74
3:05AM
0.62
3:34PM
0.54
3:57AM
0.43
4:24PM
0.38
4:44AM
0.29
5:09PM
0.28
5:27AM
0.22
5:53PM
0.24
6:09AM
0.23
6:34PM
0.27
Thursday
29
Friday
30
Saturday
31
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wednesday
04
Sunrise6:28--6:31--6:31--6:33--6:33--6:35--6:37--
Sunset-8:44--8:43--8:42--8:40--8:39--8:38--8:37-
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
-------------51------
Temp. °C181817191817171715171819222018171715181917
Feels °C (?)151415151617141311141516171512111210181817
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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