Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, N swell with 315 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ruby Bay this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Ruby Bay in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 12PM. 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 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about Ruby Bay. This is a rare-breaking point break that’s fully sheltered, so it takes a very specific N swell to even think about working. Over the next 16 days, the honest truth is there’s almost nothing to get excited about. The first surf that shows any pulse isn’t until Friday, the 24th of July, and even then it’s a weak, messy 4ft N swell with a short period of 7 seconds. The energy is moderate (177), but the wind is glassy and calm, which is a nice touch. Still, the wave comment says poor surf conditions, so don’t get your hopes up.
The real standout, and I mean the *only* standout in this whole outlook, is on Wednesday, the 5th of August. The afternoon brings a 5ft N swell, period of 10 seconds, and glassy conditions. The combined energy climbs to 460 (moderate), which is the highest we see all window. The wind is dead calm, making for clean, glassy faces. It’s the one day where the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” For a break that rarely breaks, this is a rare chance. The water temperature is sitting at 53°, which is about 2° cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing too unusual there.
Before that, there’s a long gap of poor to zero surf from the 22nd of July right through to the 4th of August. A few days show tiny 0.3ft to 1.0ft waves with no energy, and a lot of days have zero swell at all. The 5th of August is really your only shot. The 6th of August has a 3ft N swell with clean offshore wind, but the energy is low (116) and the wave comment still says poor surf conditions, so it’s not worth chasing.
Because this spot is rarely breaking and the crowd factor is “sometimes,” you might have it to yourself, but don’t bank on waves. Given the combination of a sheltered point, a N swell optimum, and the fact that the one decent day is over two weeks out, treat it as a promising but uncertain long-range call. The rest of the window is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 6°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Mon afternoon, min 2°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 16 | N 10 | N 8 | N 7 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 10 | NNW 15 | NNW 15 | NNW 15 | NNW 14 | NNW 14 | NNW 8 | N 12 | N 12 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 177 | 89 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | on | off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 3:44PM3.43m | 4:16AM3.37m | 4:38PM3.29m | 5:17AM3.23m | 5:49PM3.22m | 6:24AM3.16m | 7:15PM3.28m | 7:30AM3.18m | 8:20PM3.44m | 8:27AM3.28m | 9:06PM3.61m | 9:14AM3.43m | 9:44PM3.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:23AM1.45m | 9:39PM1.61m | 10:19AM1.60m | 10:59PM1.76m | 11:20AM1.69m | 00:16AM1.78m | 12:23PM1.71m | 1:19AM1.70m | 1:26PM1.67m | 2:11AM1.58m | 2:24PM1.55m | 2:53AM1.45m | 3:15PM1.37m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 12 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 7 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 10 | N 8 | NW 15 | NW 4 | N 13 | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 15 | NNW 15 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 89 | 46 | 309 | 126 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 7 | NW 14 | — | — | — | NW 17 | NW 12 | — | — | NNW 15 | NNW 14 | NNW 14 | NW 12 | NW 5 | NW 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | 12 | 37 | — | — | 21 | 21 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 2 | — | — | — | NW 5 | NNW 5 | N 7 | N 7 | — | W 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | SW 2 | — | SW 2 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | 14 | 278 | 177 | — | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 83 | 83 | 88 | 116 | 199 | 134 | 7 | 14 | 249 | 263 | 14 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 83 | 83 | 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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