Hi Michael,
I love this part of the world. I've been to Stanwell Tops many, many times, and for many different reasons too,
It was also here that I first saw a wedgetailed eagle flying among the dozen or so other hang-gliders and para-gliders - it was a thrill for me, but I can only imagine the rush it must have been for the girls and boys sharing those thermals with that magnificent bird.
But I also love fishing and Stanwell Beach is one of my favourite spots.
Stanwell Tops gives me a fantastic vantage point over the beach to sit for some time reading the conditions and deciding on the most likely spots best to wet a line. I'll then spend all night down on the beach fishing. Light pollution is only a small concern as half the sky is over the Pacific Ocean.
There's a reason I mention all of this. It's given me an intimate insight to the conditions of the night sky too here. There is no way I ever take a precious scope to the beach, or Stanwell Tops as you are thinking about. The fine sea spray that Wavy mentioned will kill your equipment. While it is wet it gets pulled into every nook and cranny by the dew that forms. When this spray dries, you have no chance of removing it without damaging optics, and will slowly kill electronics.
The most I would consider optics-wise is to take binos as you can clean these relatively easily and it needs to be done as soon as you are done.
The only astro thing I do on the coast itself is naked eye stuff. Binos at most, but I need to be sure that the wind is an off-shore one so the sea spray is blown away.
Fishing gives me a peaceful way to enjoy the night sky. While waiting for things to happen I'll just look up and take it all in. Meteors, the Milky Way, satellites, aircraft. I love looking at the flashes of lightning illuminating a distant thunder storm on the horizon. The rising Moon is gorgeous too with its different phases and different atmospheric conditions altering its colour. Beautiful stuff.
For things astro, really you are best served going inland. Even if just a few km from the coast as the effects of sea spray are reduced. If you are thinking of a stay at Stanwell, please do. It really is a beautiful spot as you know. Just be careful with how you chose to explore the night sky with your precious gear.
Mental.