Do you mean is the Junction Rd better than the eastern coastal road? I guess that is the south coast road for the first bit.

I think the coast road is in worse shape but also perhaps easier, if you aren't in a big rush. If you wind up in Long Bay, that's east of Porty enough to perhaps even things out for the coastal route.

I wish I could give you better advice on this but I haven't taken that road for about 8 years. Potholes have probably been filled and reformed several times since then!