Ruby Bay

Ruby Bay is a soft, long, fat left point that wraps onto a sandy beach at the western edge of Tasman Bay, just along from Mapua. It is a slow, forgiving wave rather than a steep one, which is exactly why it earns its reputation as one of the most beginner friendly longboard waves in the top of the south. Because Tasman Bay is so sheltered, it needs a solid N or NW swell to push in and get going, and it comes alive on a S or SW offshore through the mid to high tide. That combination does not line up often, so it is inconsistent, but when it does the wave is long, mellow and easy to ride, ideal for learners finding their feet and mal riders looking for an unhurried point to trim along. Expect knee to head high on its better days and a friendly crowd, or more often no crowd at all.

The setting is as much of the draw as the surf. Ruby Bay is a small rural settlement strung along a curving sandy shore backed by orchards, vineyards and rolling farmland, with Nelson about 30 minutes east and Mapua just 5 minutes away. The red pebbles scattered along the sand gave the bay its name, and it is not unusual to see fur seals or dolphins working the bay. For a surfer based in Nelson or Motueka this is the local option when the swell wraps in, and for a visiting longboarder it pairs a gentle wave with one of the prettiest, sunniest corners of the South Island.

• Time your session for the push toward high tide on a N or NW swell with a light S or SW breeze, and park at the west end of the beach near Brabant Drive, then walk along to the point to find the cleanest wrap.
• Treat Ruby Bay as a fair weather longboard wave, not a reliable everyday option. If the open coast is too big or too messy and a northerly swell is in the water, this is the sheltered spot to check, but on a flat bay save the petrol and surf elsewhere.
• Pair the surf with a spin on the Great Taste Trail, the easy coastal cycleway that runs through the orchards between Ruby Bay, Mapua and beyond, with the seasonal cycle ferry across to Rabbit Island running roughly late September to May.
• Mapua Wharf, 5 minutes away, is the social hub of the Ruby Coast: fish and chips and smoked fish from the Smokehouse, craft beer at Golden Bear Brewing, waterfront dining at Jellyfish, wine at Rimu Wine Bar, plus ice creameries and galleries in the old cool store sheds.
• With Abel Tasman National Park about 40 minutes north and the area's wineries on the doorstep, Ruby Bay suits a surf weekend where a non-surfing partner has plenty to do, and Nelson is one of New Zealand's sunniest cities to base from.

• The wave is soft, fat and slow, so it does not jack up or hold a steep face. Bring a longboard or mal and plenty of patience, because a shortboard will struggle to find drive on all but the best days.
• It only breaks when a solid N or NW swell pushes into sheltered Tasman Bay, and it is best across the mid to high tide. Check the forecast before you drive, because on most days the bay is flat and you will need an open coast option instead.
• Tide planning matters on the beach itself, as high tide pushes right up to the cliffs in places and can cut off a walk back along the sand. Note the turn of the tide before you wander far from the access point.
• This is an unpatrolled beach with no surf club watching over it, so surf within your ability and keep an eye on younger or less confident surfers in the water with you.
• Mobile coverage can be patchy along this rural stretch of coast, so tell someone your plans if you are heading out alone.

Getting there

From Nelson head south on SH6 through Stoke and Richmond, turn onto SH60 toward Mapua and Motueka, then follow Mapua Drive and Stafford Road down to Ruby Bay, about 30 minutes in total. For the point, continue to the west end of the beach near Brabant Drive; a short walk along the sand brings you to where the wave breaks.

Parking

There is roadside and beach access parking along the foreshore at the west end of the beach near the point. The road in is sealed and a short walk along the sand may be needed to reach the break.

Toilets & showers

Public toilets, picnic tables and a playground are at the nearby McKee Memorial Reserve just south of Ruby Bay, which also has cold showers; Kina Recreation Reserve on the Kina Beach foreshore has toilets and a water supply. There are no surf club showers at the break itself, so plan to rinse at the reserves or your accommodation.

Shops, cafes & fuel

Mapua, about 5 minutes (2.2 km) away, has the village shops, the Tasman General Store with its own coffee roastery and home baking, and the full spread of Mapua Wharf cafes and eateries. The nearest fuel is The Grind Tasman Store on Aporo Road in Mapua. Nelson and Motueka, both well stocked with supermarkets and services, are roughly 30 minutes away.

Accommodation

Tasman Motor Camp at 55 Aporo Road, Ruby Bay, is a quiet, family and dog friendly holiday park set among the orchards with cabins and powered sites, communal kitchens, a playground and a pool heated November to April. Baches, cottages and B&Bs are dotted through Ruby Bay and Mapua (search Bookabach or Airbnb), with a much wider choice of motels and hotels in Nelson and Motueka nearby.

Camping

Tasman Motor Camp in Ruby Bay takes tents, campervans and powered sites. McKee Memorial Reserve just south has a basic camping ground with toilets and cold showers, and Kina Recreation Reserve on the Kina foreshore allows camping for up to four nights with toilets and water. Freedom camping in the wider Tasman District is controlled under the council's Responsible Camping Bylaw, so check the Tasman District Council rules for self-contained vehicle requirements and any site restrictions before staying overnight outside a campground.