For young Aboriginal boys the Walkabout is a rite of passage, a transition from childhood to adulthood. At the age of about 13 they are sent into the wilderness for six months or so to fend for themselves. It is said that in this period they follow the paths of their ancestors who formed the world before changing into natural objects such as rocks and trees. These objects are now sacred places that feature in stories about the Dreamtime, and the stories serve as a roadmap during the Walkabout.