Last Updated: 6th Feb 2024
Ruby Bay Circuit
Last Updated: 6th Feb 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 13 ?
Gnarl Factor: 8 ?
14.0km
200m
200m
107m
Last Updated: 6th Feb 2024
Last Updated: 6th Feb 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 13 ?
Gnarl Factor: 8 ?
14.0km
200m
200m
107m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, small hills only
Dog Friendly
Beach
Open farmlands
Open ridges/tops
Sealed Road
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +3.0%
Average Downhill Gradient: -3.6%
Login as a VIP to see the trailhead information.
2:00
Slow
1:30
Moderate
1:00
Fast
From the Ruby Bay carpark pick up the Great Taste trail which goes North West up Pine Hill Road. Follow road for about 600 metres to where the trail branches off to the left and climbs up to the top of a small ridge, then continue to follow the Blue Markers of the GTT on a nice gravel trail as it gently meanders its way down open country side with housing and apple orchards all around.
Just past the Jester House Cafe turn Left off the GTT and run south up Williams Road. Keep running along road for about 2.5 km until the gravel road comes to and end by a very stately set of gate pillars with statues on top. Turn left just past these gates on to a marked rough track called the Tasman Loop Track and follow this up a steep hill and along open paddocks. This is marked with white posts.
Past a house with many old wrecked cars you come to the old forestry road called Dickers Road. Turn Left (East) and follow Dickers Road, which is a rough clay road, for about 2 kms until just before the only house on your left. You'll see a timber stile that leads downhill on a gravel path through an alpaca farm down onto Westmere drive. Follow Westmere Drive to Suncrest Drive and turn Right and follow this downhill to Awa Awa Road. Turn left and keep the lake on your left. Follow Awa awa until Pumona road where you rejoin the Great Taste Trail. Turn right on to the trail and retrace your steps back over the ridge to Ruby Bay and jump in for a swim..if the tide's in !
Great Views of Tasman Bay, Richmond Ranges and Kahurangi National Park.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Plenty of Parking in Ruby Bay Beach Carpark. It's not a formalised car park with parking spaces, just a large pull off area beside the beach with toilets. Pretty safe. No public transport.
20 km
19 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Take map provided on this trail as it can be tricky in last 6 kms.
Perfect throughout.
Windproof jacket, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map
No Water on trail. Take water with you
Good all year round trail. Can be hot in summer with little shade.
Watch out for mountain bikers on Great Taste Trail - this is a very popular trail especially on weekends.
Jester House
Just out of Tasman Village (East) on Aporo road
Tasman Institution good food awesome location (Gets busy and closed Winters)
Tasman Store
Tasman Village
Nice sunny location good food.
Mapua Wharf
Mapua
Heaps of Cafes and Restaurants great Location.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Ruby Bay Circuit
As a VIP member you can record private notes for this trail, see all of your times and more.
Already have an account? Login now
Great loop! Instructions were very good - thank you. Agree with other comments that it’s quite exposed on a hot day and to carry own water. Lovely sea breeze in places.
December 26, 2021
I ran this on a hot day and it was relentless, as there's no shade. The route involves a lot of sealed road and gravel road, so I recommend using road shoes rather than trail shoes. The views from the ridge are great, but the road running detracted from my enjoyment of this route. Once you get past Jester House there's no water for dogs, so good to bring some if it's a hot day.
December 19, 2021
Love this track ! More often run in reverse as I prefer to go up the track near the alpaca farm as it is pretty steep (not a downhill runner yet). It has just enough hills and flats to keep it interesting. Best of all it right on my door step, no driving required. Dog friendly too! Two areas that you pass through require you to put the dog on a lead due to livestock.
May 21, 2020
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
Send to your phone
Scan the below QR code to open this trail on your phone.
Tip: position the QR code in your phone camera screen.
