If you haven't tried astro-photography before you'll want to give that a go while you are near Tekapo, its a dark sky reserve, so some of the best easily accessible night sky photography in the world is to be had on a clear night. Tripod, small torch for lighting the foreground and a fast-wide angle lens are highly recommended. The galactic core should be right on the horizon in an ESE direction about 10pm at night with the galactic equator extending nearly vertical from that point at that time of year.