The PRANZ National MeetUp was back for 2023, this year in the beautiful west coast town of Reefton. PRANZ members came along to meet others with a common interest and enthusiasm for packrafting, learn from more advanced paddlers, share their adventures, offer others their knowledge and experiences, and make new friends.

National Packrafting Meetup locations are chosen for their variety of accessible river sections, with mainly G1-2+ options (portagable G3) for low or high river flows, and the scenery! ‍For 2023, we were based for the first time in the historic town of Reefton, with lots of amenities in town like a 4Square, bakeries, a gin factory (!), movie theatre, and rivers of course. So many packrafting opportunities! There were tracks, rivers, open tops, bike trails, all accessible and in stunning forest. A choice of rivers, runs and grades including Inangahua, Waitahu, Grey – Upper/Lower nearby and the Maruia and Arnold within an hours drive if needed (if there’s not enough water near town!). The location is also ideal for adding pre and post meetup runs on the Grey (overnighter), Buller etc.

As it happened, due to low water flows the 3 local rivers were not suitable so we travelled further afield. CHeck out the video for some highlights.