- Terminal pancreatic cancer has forced an Eastern Bay couple to sell their Whanarua Bay retreat.
- After a post-Covid holiday, they decided to move there and bought the hexagonal home with the separate cottage.
- Their property includes two homes, bush, bay views, fruit trees, and a globally top-ranked Airbnb.
A shock terminal diagnosis has cut short an Eastern Bay of Plenty couple’s dream to retire at the beach.
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Terry and Kathy Sheldrake, both former Gisborne District councillors, moved to Whanarua Bay, in Ōpōtiki, five years ago after enjoying a post-Covid break there.
But unexpected health issues have struck the couple, leaving them with no choice but to sell their much-loved hexagonal home with separate cottage and move closer to medical facilities.
Kathy told OneRoof she was in hospital after breaking her knee earlier this year when Terry collapsed and ended up joining her in hospital.
“We were both in the Whakatāne Hospital at the same time. I went in first, and Terry came about a week later. It was an awful, awful time.”
Terry Sheldrake was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, which has changed his and wife Kathy’s retirement plans. Photo / Liam Clayton
The architecturally-designed home was built to make the most of the views over the bay. Photo / Supplied
Doctors then delivered Terry a major blow, diagnosing him with terminal pancreatic cancer.
“Five months ago, I got told I had three to six months to live. It’s pretty confronting,” Terry said.
“It would be nice if the months I got told turn into years. At 77, I could accept that. We don’t want to dwell on that, but it’s the reason we are selling.”
The couple had already been forced to make several other changes, including selling their boat, and were now leaving their much-loved beach property which they discovered almost by chance five years ago.
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The pair had booked 8344D State Highway 35, in Whanarua Bay, for a post-lockdown holiday, and while there, they learnt it was for sale.
Kathy told OneRoof: “We decided after Covid we wanted to do something different and we came here and stayed for a weekend and the lady who owned it said it was up for sale. So, we went back to Gisborne and put our house on the market and thought if it sells it’s meant to be, and that’s what happened.”
The retirees moved into the main architecturally-designed property, which they call the Glass House due to its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and rented the cottage to holidaymakers.
The Sheldrakes had been instrumental in running 150 Weet-Bix TRYathlon events and hosting several World Triathlons in New Zealand, so when they took over the Airbnb they also wanted to make sure guests had a good experience.
The separate one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage was ranked in the top 1% of Airbnb retreats worldwide. Photo / Supplied
Kathy added: “Often I’d do baking for them and be making muffins and banana cake and all those sorts of things. Bringing them over here for a glass of wine.”
Their efforts had also seen the cottage receive recognition as one of Airbnb worldwide Top-Ranked 1% Airbnb Retreats. “It’s been very successful, and we’ve had wonderful guests from all around the world. It’s been fabulous ... they love the spot, they love the privacy.”
The couple said it was an extremely special property in an area with its own microclimate and some of the country’s best fishing. The two homes sit on a 9450sqm section, which has fruit trees and its own banana plantation.
They would miss the birdsong, native bush, stunning views across the bay as well as the friendly community, which had stepped in to help and look after their dog when they were both hospitalised earlier in the year.
Kathy said they would be sad to say goodbye, but they didn’t really have a choice. “We can’t stay here really with Terry’s diagnosis. We need to be closer to medical facilities, so we are looking at around Whakatane sort of area to move to.”
They said the unique home, which has an RV of $980,000, could suit someone looking for a permanent residence, holiday home or even someone wanting to run both properties as holiday lets.
- 8344D State Highway 35, in Whanarua Bay, in Ōpōtiki is for sale by negotiation
