Hi John,
Well yup, full moon isn't a great time to go stargazing so you're going to miss on an awful lot. There's a list of targets for you in another thread:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=75871
Leave the scope - just bring:
a) your binocs,
b) a decent torch so you can see where you're walking in the dark, and
c) an iPhone or iPad loaded with some astro software that will show you where to look for the pretty things, and what you're looking at.
Katoomba is a fairly big town and has too many lights to see much at night. What's worse, the lookouts at the edge of the national park are floodlit at night, so its a really lousy choice.
Better choices - since you're travelling light with nothing heavy:
1. Leura (one stop before Katoomba). While there is still light take the cliff walk heading west to one of the lookouts: there are many rough foot-tracks but you MUST be with someone who knows the way as you're on the edge of some serious cliffs. The view from these is stunning and dark at night. I'd suggest the Elysian Rock (short walk from Gordon Falls carpark) or Sublime Point Lookout. From the station its about a 30 minute walk to Gordon Falls and there is a local bus though I have no idea what the timetable is.
2. If going by car, after passing through Bullaburra turn left into Tableland Road (signposted "Kings Tableland"). Follow this south and turn right (west) into Hordern Road, follow this to the end. This puts you in the national park at the edge of a plateau overlooking the Jamison valley. At the end of Hordern Rd turn left (dirt road) and head south a couple of hundred metres, there you will find a huge level sandstone slab, great spot for a late evening picnic. Dark and no lights.
3. Hargraves Lookout, west of Blackheath. Follow signs to Shipley Plateau. This site is the furthest west in the blue mountains and high at 1100 metres, cliffs on 3 sides mean it is very exposed with great horizons - but it's cold at night. If you have a really spectacular afternoon with no wind, this is the one I'd head for.
In any case I'd suggest plan on dinner in the mountains and make sure you arrive at the chosen site before dark. You will want a warm jacket and a beanie, and a thermos of coffee.
Ordinarily I'd volunteer but this Easter I'll be paragliding in the Victorian alps.