Surf Breaks
New Zealand (466)
Nelson – Tasman Bay (18)
Ruby Bay

Ruby Bay Surf Photo: 'Ruby Bay. Choppy. No takers' by Rob Davies

Lat Long: 41.21° S 173.09° E

Issued: 11 pm 01 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in hr min

Today's Ruby Bay sea temperature is

12.7° C

Normal for this time of year

Ruby Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.

16 Day Forecast Hourly Wave Energy Map Wave Height Map Wind Map

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Tides Sea Temperature

Guide Reviews (1)Photos (45)

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3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NW	NW	NNW
	8 s	cross	8 s	8 s

Open ocean wave model on 7 September at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NW	NW	NNW	WNW
	8 s	cross	8 s	8 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 7 September at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NNW	NNW	WNW
	8 s	cross	8 s	11 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	N	NNW	WNW
	7 s	cross- on	7 s	11 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NNW	NNW
	7 s	cross- on	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NNW	NNW
	8 s	cross	8 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NW	NNW
	8 s	cross	8 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	N	NW	NNW
	9 s	cross	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NW	NNW
	9 s	cross- off	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	WNW	NNW
	9 s	cross- off	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 September at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	WNW	NNW
	9 s	cross- off	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NW	WNW	NW
	10 s	cross- off	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NW	WNW	NW	NNW
	10 s	cross- off	11 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NW	WNW	NW	NW
	12 s	cross- off	11 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NW	WNW	NNW	WNW
	12 s	cross- off	9 s	13 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	NW	NNW	WNW
	9 s	cross	9 s	14 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	NNW	WNW	NW	NNW	WNW
	9 s	cross- off	9 s	9 s	14 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 September at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Ruby Bay around the time the photo was taken

Image captured 2 hours and 9 minutes after high water (falling ordinary tide). Tide height was 2.8m (9.1 ft). Range 4.03m (13.2 ft). Toggle tide graph

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Ruby Bay Surf Photo: 'Ruby Bay. Choppy. No takers' by Rob Davies

I only uploaded this because I was curious to see what the forecast swell was at the time we drove by. Apart from reliable Schnappers, it is hard to get other Nelson breaks in optimum swell and wind conditions.

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User: Rob Davies (1346 photos)

Country: New Zealand (2470 photos)

Photo taken at: 4:41 pm 8 Sep 2012