Mataranka Homestead (Thermal pools) is a MUST not matter what time of day or night
Like all touring, what you get out of it depends on the effort you put in exploring. Do not waste it by driving at night. Unless you have to "make a mile" I would not recommend it. You will find the single biggest thing that makes the trip feel like a long way are the distance markers EVERY FIVE @#@## KILOMETRES. You will get sick of looking at Kxxx or TWxxx.