Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, N swell with 303 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 (Sep 04) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ruby Bay in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee, because there’s not much to talk about. Ruby Bay, a point break that’s sheltered and rarely breaks, has a 16-day window with zero good surf options. This is a total blank run, and for a spot that’s "rarely breaks," that’s pretty normal. Don’t sell your board yet—forecasts can shift, and it doesn’t stay this flat forever.
The first real wave comes on Thursday, September 3rd, in the morning. Before that, it’s flat calm. On the 3rd, we get a 4ft swell from the northwest with a weak 6-second period, and combined energy is just 103. Glassy wind, but it’s a short-period, weak push. The water temp is 55°F, about average for the time of year. The afternoon drops to 3ft.
The one standout—and I’m using that word loosely—is Sunday afternoon, September 6th. Swell hits 6ft from the north, period at 8 seconds, and energy jumps to 399. That’s moderate energy. Wind goes glassy, so it’ll be clean. The swell direction matches the break’s optimum (north), but the period is short, so expect dumpy, close-out waves. The size is too big for beginners, but alright for the rest. It’s the best we’ve got.
Monday, September 7th, has 4ft to 3ft from the north, with a longer period of 10–11 seconds, and energy around 227. Light offshore winds make it clean. Still, the surf is ordinary. From Tuesday the 8th onward, it’s back to tiny, weak stuff—0.3ft to 2ft—with glassy mornings but no power.
So, if you’re itching, Sunday the 6th afternoon is your only real shot. Otherwise, Ruby Bay is living up to its name as a rare-breaker. Keep an eye on the sky.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 | N 18 | NW 6 | NW 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NW 6 | NW 16 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | N 10 | N 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 6 | 0 | 79 | 8 | 43 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 20 | 170 | 111 | 94 | 148 | 106 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 00:46AM4.05m | 1:12PM3.90m | 1:27AM3.87m | 1:50PM3.74m | 2:15AM3.64m | 2:34PM3.52m | 3:13AM3.42m | 3:37PM3.28m | 4:28AM3.25m | 5:21PM3.15m | 5:57AM3.23m | 7:12PM3.34m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:33AM0.77m | 6:54PM0.87m | 7:14AM0.95m | 7:38PM1.09m | 8:03AM1.17m | 8:39PM1.34m | 9:04AM1.39m | 10:10PM1.53m | 10:24AM1.54m | 11:47PM1.50m | 12:02PM1.52m | 1:06AM1.29m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 13 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | N 15 | N 5 | NW 16 | N 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NW 17 | — | N 7 | N 8 | N 10 | N 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 37 | 10 | 200 | 72 | 29 | 15 | 12 | 72 | — | 111 | 94 | 148 | 106 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 15 | NW 15 | NW 17 | NW 16 | N 15 | — | NW 15 | — | NW 16 | NW 15 | NNW 15 | N 7 | NW 16 | — | — | NNW 16 | NW 16 | NNW 15 | NW 14 |
| kJ | 22 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 4 | — | 9 | — | 10 | 9 | 22 | 9 | 61 | — | — | 25 | 10 | 23 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | NW 9 | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | 3 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 2 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 7 | — | — | — | NW 6 | — | NNW 5 | N 6 | NW 8 | SSW 3 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 42 | 79 | 7 | 43 | 112 | 245 | — | — | — | 66 | — | 20 | 170 | 205 | 3 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 142 | 83 | 83 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 115 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 88 | 88 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Ruby Bay 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 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
Nearest