Whyalla Steelworks Tour - most interesting and best value for money we have spent so far. Concession $16 for 2hr bus tour through the steelworks and free postcard from visitors centre on completion of tour. The guide is actually a worker at the complex and she was very informative and able to answer all questions.

Plume of steam after 65,000 litres of water has been dumped to cool the Coke after the "cooking" process. This occurs every 6 mins 24/7.

These are the ovens use to process the coal into coke. 22 tones of coal produces 19 tonne of coke - 3 tonne of by product which includes sodium nitrate sold off to the farmers, slag which is recycled for bitumen and slag hills covered to reduce fugitive dust and the coke making Water Recycling Reed Bed project which encourages vegetation on the man-made slag hills around the 1000 hectares site.

As the coal is cooked into coke a small train moves along to collect the new product and take it along to the water cooling process before dumping it along the conveyor belt to be stockpiled for further cooling and transport. Fascinating process and the final steel product is only able to be handled once it reaches 100 degrees or below!