A walkabout is a rite of passage in which indigenous guys travel throughout their teens. This voyage entailed living in the desert for up to six months in order to accomplish the spiritual and traditional transition into manhood. /span> During this time, they would go from house to house in their community seeking hospitality and making friends. They would eat what was offered them and stay in people's homes when they slept outside. The purpose of this journey was to prepare indigenous boys for life by teaching them self-reliance and providing them with other skills that they could use once they returned home. This tradition is still practiced by some aboriginal groups across Australia. They would walk for miles through unforgiving terrain with only a knife, spear, or shield as protection. When they arrived at their destination, they would present themselves to the elders of the tribe and tell them how their year had been. If they were accepted into the group, they would become men. This practice ended about 150 years ago when most indigenous Australians moved out of the bush and into towns. However, some groups still conduct walkabouts each year. People still talk about their experiences with walkabouts and its impact on young indigenous men today.