You can also go to the ASNSW Crago observatory at Bowen Mountain, a 20min drive from Richmond
http://www.asnsw.com/node/746 . The observatory usually opens for visitors a week before the new moon. Also, there is a large cleared area around the observatory to set up your own scopes.
If you're in Katoomba area, a publicly accessible location will be the Evans lookout near Blackheath.
Arief