At a bit under 30nm Carnarvon is about half the travel distance compared to Denham. As for suitable anchorages, Carnarvonite will be the person to ask.

with top gun some time back  ,anchord behind the island it was magic , fishing was great too .  would suggest go with 1 other  that know the area

Best anchoring spots on Dorre island are White Beach [about half way down the inside, a nice little sheltered cove] and in Disaster bay , just south of the gap between the islands. White beach is open to easterlies while Disaster bay to northerlies.

Bernier island has about 4-5 smaller bays north of Red Cliff bay [provides good shelter from anything from the south] and south of Hospital bay, just south of Koks Island. You can pick Hospital bay easily, its the big white sand beach on the NE corner of Bernier and the southern end inside the reef is possibly the best spot of all.

Its something like 27nm from Carnarvon to the Gap and 29 nm to Koks island, so if you think of travelling from Denham you will have to be prepared to carry lots of fuel.

If you get caught in screaming easterlies the bay under the light house on Cape Ronchard is ok and there is a small sheltered bay about 1nm south of the Gap on the western side of Dorre.

For radio coverage, we monitor VHF 16, 73 AND 81[a repeater on Cape Cuvier that provides reception down the west side] 27 meg doesn't reach there for the mainland.

Anything else just ask.

 White beach is okay unless there are strong easterlies and then it can become a problem. Notorious for boats pulling anchors...especially after dark.

Carnarvonite, Disaster Cove exposed to Northerlies? Really?

 Thanks guys, I have put those spots in my computer.

Much further from Denham but had a bad experience in Canarvon with gear getting stolen so I was a bit hesitant leaving car and trailer there. Is there a good place for 5 guys to stay that anyone can recommend?

 Dave maybe ring the yatch club or the tackle store up at the harbour they may be able to do something for you regarding leaving car over nightas they have yards that get locked at night.When overnighting at islands hard to say until you know what wind is doing but when every we moor always two anchors out front. 

 I miss those islands! One of my favourite places, can be scary though. The old days when Carnarfin was mainly full of locals heading out there and back to weigh in at the Gassy with a thumper were gold.

 Thanks Mad, I'll phone in the morning and I'm sure they can fit me in.

U2 choppa, I used to fish quobba at carnfin so we had to drive back in after being on the boat all day. Mate Noel won the Mackie prize one year with a 27.5kg. Same year a boat turned over coming back into the shacks.

Remember the afternoon beers watching the weigh ins. We would save our biggest till last.

 Any of you guys going to Carnafin this year????? bit off subject.

 What are the dates can't find on the net. Used to be in April/may.

 Carnarvonite, I've checked my charts and cant find Disaster Bay. Where abouts on the island is it?

Disaster Bay is top NE corner of Dorre Island, just down from the Gap

 About 800 m south of the gap.

 if you decide to anchor in hospital bay catch your self a smallish grass and chuck him back as a livey at night, ill put my house on you catching big cod all though this is true anywhere you fish around there

 Sounds good Bitten, I'll give it a go. Was also thinking taking a crab net to drop over at night if there are any up there.

 Thanks canarvonite I'll let you know the best time, what's the record? I had better use the big gear at night, hard to get those big cods off the bottom or out of caves.  Cod are the greatest for releasing I've had some in a puddle of water for most of the day and they still kick around on the filleting table  at night.