agree the bay beaches are pretty naff... but st kilda beach would be the equivalent of something you'd get near drummoyne..
vic surf coast > entire nsw coastline.
great ocean road is awesome fun, with plenty of nice little beaches & towns all through it..
not bad.
Agreed with Drew, pretty great the whole way down the coast. Even the north beach/blue mile/lighthouse are of Wollongong is pretty nice. The city around crown street area though, lordy what a shithole it is