Professionals Tamborine Mountain 
Nick Moore, manager of the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, has a history as rich as the property he cares for. I catch up with him to explore not only the rich greenery, but the history of a long-standing part of the mountain community
Kyle Hitchmough
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve lived on Tamborine Mountain, there’s a few things that simply never change. The friendly community, the relaxed atmosphere… but by far the one thing that never fails to be striking is the breathtaking scenery. The natural beauty of the mountain remains unchallenged, and so it’s not surprising that one of its biggest tourist attractions is one that perfectly highlights that beauty.
The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk has been in operation since 2009 and has been a staple of the area. Since its inception, Tamborine has had one family to thank.
The Skywalk is not the Moore family’s first business venture here. In 1989 Ian and Jennifer Moore opened Songbirds, which would soon become one of the Mountain’s premier restaurants. Over time it began to become clear that it just wasn’t the avenue they truly wanted to pursue.
“We’d get calls on the phone at night saying ‘the toast is browning too much, what do we do?’” Nick Moore laughs. Nick is one of Ian and Jennifer’s two sons, and he and his brother Brendan manage the skywalk today. As he tells it, even with his own background in hospitality the Songbirds property was just too exhausting to manage for the family. Fortunately, the next genius idea struck when his parents recalled an attraction they’d once visited in Tasmania. They already owned the property that would soon become the Skywalk’s location and they’d recently discovered an exciting possibility: an old logging road used in the olden days of cedar logging. After five years of hard work and tenacity that path would become the beginnings of the Skywalk that stands proud – 10 years last March.
Walking the trail itself is an experience unlike any other. Perhaps not for those with a fear of heights as the walkway towers above the treetops to show off the view all the way across the rainforest’s canopy. There are few words that can be used to describe the sight of the verdant green stretching out around you, unforgettable views extending as far as the eye can see. The path leads from there deeper into the rainforest’s depths, winding around amongst the trunks of the towering trees and taking in the sights, sounds and sensations of the living world around you.
Seeing all of this might fill you with wonder at the artistry of nature, but in fact a lot of effort goes in on the part of Nick and the team to keep the trail pristine. Clearing the trail of any litter left behind by the less respectful visitors as well as removing any errant vines and other natural debris. Managing the Skywalk is a more intensive task than it first appears. That doesn’t bother Nick, though. “My real passion is what’s out there,” he says, gesturing over the sweeping landscape. It’s important to him to keep the trail accessible. “There are beautiful walks on the mountain, but some of them are quite difficult for the elderly, or anyone with an ailment, whereas here it’s a relatively easy walk out into some pristine rainforest.”
It’s not just caring for the flora, conservation of the extremely rare Richmond Birdwing butterfly has been a core part of the Skywalk’s modus operandi since their discovery on the property, including planting over 6000 of the specific vine the caterpillars feed on and engaging in butterfly breeding programs to bolster the species. Even Nick says he learns something new every day working on the property, and there’s always more to discover even after a decade in operation.
So much goes into making sure the Skywalk is an unforgettable experience but in no way does Nick consider it wasted effort. “I love the people of the mountain,” he says, “the community here never ceases to amaze me. When things go south and there’s a problem, people rally and get behind you. I’ve never been privy to that in such a tight-knit community before. Our staff are all local, we try to buy local. We do a lot of advertising on TV, radio, and a huge amount of brochures, and we do feel we draw a lot of people up to the mountain, which is our way of helping and giving back to the community.” It’s a cycle of support, it’s the support of Tamborine Mountain’s good folk that let the Skywalk prosper for them to enjoy.
But what about Nick himself? What is it that runs in his blood that drives him to do so much for the land and its people here? “My absolute favourite thing, and there’s no doubt in the world, is being out here and talking to customers. Passing on a little bit of my knowledge and getting that feedback from them and their enjoyment, that’s what gets me up here every single day. I often find myself out here,” he says as we sit on the balcony leading to the trail, pointing out to me features of the ground below with an undeniable light in his eyes. “There’s a birdbath right there with regent bowerbirds, crimson rosellas. I like passing on that information. Talking to people, finding out where they’re from, that’s my big drive.”
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