I have a apartment on the Gold Coast broad water,rented out, and have spent
Some time there, true it is beautiful however it is also expensive when compared to Thailand, but the Gold Coast is a good value holiday by Aussie standards.
If you want to try expensive try Perth or some trendy holiday spot like broome,not saying broome is not nice but it is expensive, and compare the dollar value for a holiday in oz!
You really cannot compare holiday prices when they are in different countries , I have an associate who spent six months in the south of France in a rented villa, thanks to his wife's demands, he said it was very pretty but the price was just obscene and he thought it was a complete waste of money, his wife loved it.
He loves Asia as he travels on a shoestring and wants value for money, and this lucky prick is loaded.

So IMHO the Gold Coast is good value for people who may not have the sense of adventure that us Thai fans have.

Rob