Mataranka, Northern Territory

Mataranka is a small town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is about 420 kilometers (260 miles) southeast of Darwin, the territory's capital city.

 History and Culture 
Mataranka is known because of the book We of the Never Never. This book was written by Jeannie Gunn and is about her life on a cattle station (Elsey Station) near the town in the early 1900s. You can visit a replica of the Elsey Homestead and the Never Never Museum. The area is the traditional home of the Yangman and Mangarayi Aboriginal people. The name Mataranka means "home of the snake" in the Yangmanic language. During World War II, the Australian Army had a large camp and hospital near Mataranka. On 2007, the city is published again.

 Geography and Climate 
Mataranka is in a part of Australia called the Top End of the Northern Territory. It is about 420 kilometers (260 miles) southeast of Darwin. The town is near the Roper River, which is a large river in the Top End. The area is famous for its natural hot springs, like the Mataranka Thermal Pool and Bitter Springs, which are inside Elsey National Park.

The land around Mataranka is mostly tropical bushland with tall paperbark trees and palm trees near the water. Mataranka has a tropical climate with two main seasons that last for about six months each:
The Dry Season (May to October):
The weather is sunny with clear blue skies. The air is dry, and there is almost no rain. Temperatures are warm, with daily highs between 21°C and 32°C (70°F and 90°F). This is the best time for tourists to visit.

The Wet Season (November to April):
The weather becomes very hot and humid. There are heavy monsoonal rains and spectacular thunderstorms. High temperatures can reach about 34°C (93°F), with warm nights. The rain can sometimes cause floods, and some areas in the national park may close.