Days 17 & 18. Up early as we are doing a very long haul north of 1,100km over two days to reach Mataranka Springs just south of Katherine. Our first stop Wycliffe Wells for lunch then onto Barrow Creek, an old Telegraph Station, stopping for a walk at The Devils Marbles. Giant round red boulders neatly balanced on each other! Refuelled at Tennant Creek, a wild looking outback town, then onto Banka Banka Cattle Station where we stopped the night. Campfire, bar, donkeys, horses, cattle - we were made very welcome. Quite a few dead cows along the highway, so many long road trains. Climbed the hill behind the station for a magnificent sunset view of the very expansive station on the edge of the Tanami Desert. Next morning on the road early through Elliot, Three Ways, Dunmarra, stopping at the historic Daly Waters Pub for late morning tea, then Larrimah and finally Mataranka Springs, traditional home of the Mangarayi and Yangman people. At the Homestead we set up the van and straight down to the hot Rainbow Springs with our floating 'noodles' for a dip. Absolutely beautiful amongst the Livingstonia palms, the water a warm 34 degrees. Dinner tonight at the outdoor Maluka Bar and Restaurant. A great night of entertainment with some Australiana singers and a fascinating Australian Stockwhips performance by Nathan Griggs. At last, we are in shorts as it has reached 31 degrees today.