Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, N swell with 1,016 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ruby Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ruby Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight up about Ruby Bay. It's a point break that's sheltered and rarely breaks, and looking at this 16-day run, there's just nothing to get excited about. The forecast is a long, flat blank.
We kick off from Tuesday the 25th of August with zero swell energy, and it just stays that way. There's a little blip on Wednesday the 26th where we get a tiny 3ft swell from the NNW, but it's got a short period of 6 seconds and the combined energy is a weak 60. The water temp sits at 53°F which is about average for the time of year, but don't let that fool you – the surf is useless. That little pulse fades into nothing by Thursday with a 1ft and then a 0.3ft wave. Not rideable.
Then Friday the 28th rolls in with a big, ugly 8ft north swell with 8-second periods and a combined energy of 825. That's a lot of wind chop, and with heavy rain and a 16 mph cross-on wind, this spot is going to be a washing machine. It's too big for beginners at that size, and the quality is just poor. By Saturday the 29th, the swell drops back to 3ft with a clean SW offshore, but the energy is only 82 and the direction is N – it won't wrap in here properly.
Honestly, from the 30th of August all the way through the 9th of September, it's flat. Day after day of zero swell energy and glassy or offshore winds on an empty ocean. There are long gaps of over a week with absolutely no recommendations. For a break that rarely breaks, this kind of blank run is pretty normal for the area. Don't bother waxing up, because there's nothing to catch. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, it's a bust.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 1°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | NNW 15 | NNW 5 | W 3 | WNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 16 | N 4 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 5 | N 6 | NW 15 | NW 16 | NNW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 825 | 695 | 219 | 82 | 42 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | on | off | glassy | off | off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 8:46PM3.45m | 8:53AM3.41m | 9:23PM3.67m | 9:34AM3.60m | 9:56PM3.88m | 10:13AM3.76m | 10:29PM4.06m | 10:51AM3.89m | 11:01PM4.17m | 11:27AM3.97m | 11:34PM4.21m | 12:03PM4.01m | 00:09AM4.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:08PM1.54m | 2:33AM1.47m | 2:57PM1.28m | 3:09AM1.27m | 3:34PM1.02m | 3:44AM1.07m | 4:08PM0.81m | 4:17AM0.88m | 4:39PM0.68m | 4:49AM0.73m | 5:10PM0.62m | 5:22AM0.65m | 5:43PM0.63m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | |  |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 27 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 6 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | — | N 5 | N 5 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 11 | NW 15 | NW 16 | NNW 17 |
| kJ | 9 | 16 | 5 | 5 | — | 19 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 219 | 82 | 42 | 42 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 60 | 68 | 28 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 15 | NW 15 | NW 14 | — | — | NW 14 | NE 6 | NNW 5 | — | — | — | — | NW 12 | N 21 | NW 19 | NW 18 | NNW 6 | NW 16 | — | NW 5 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 23 | 9 | 8 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 10 | — | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 15 | — | — | N 13 | N 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 16 | N 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 5 | NNW 6 | — | E 3 | — | N 4 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | W 3 | SW 3 | — | SW 2 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 8 | 34 | 60 | — | 3 | — | 10 | 825 | 695 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 5 | 2 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 115 | 115 | 83 | 83 | 14 | 137 | 88 | 83 | 83 | 205 | 129 | 0 | 14 | 83 | 14 | 129 | 272 | 169 | 83 | 83 | 83 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ruby Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ruby Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ruby Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ruby Bay 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 (Ruby Bay) 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 Ruby Bay 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 Nelson - Tasman Bay? If you are looking for accommodation near Ruby Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - Tasman Bay, consider staying in Nelson which is 17 km (11 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Blenheim which is 80 km (50 miles) away
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