Jes,
The hostel reviews on this site and the
BUG Australia guidebook are the best place to look, but I can help you with some places if you give me an idea of what sort of place you like to stay at.
Do you prefer a big party hostel with lots of facilities or a small place with more character?
Some good places include:
CANBERRA:
Canberra City Accommodation (clean, lots of facilities but not much atmosphere - just like Canberra)
SYDNEY:
Wood Duck Inn (small hostel with a good party atmosphere and a brilliant roof top deck)
BYRON BAY:
All the hostels here are pretty good but Backpackers Inn on the Beach has a good beachside location and J's Bay YHA has the best mix of facilities and cleanliness.
GOLD COAST:
Trekkers (small hostel in Southport - five minute drive from Surfers Paradise - that has a great atmosphere.
Backpackers in Paradise (good party-oriented hostel in the heart of Surfers Paradise)
BRISBANE:
City Backpackers (big hostel with good facilities and atmosphere)
Palace Embassy (brilliant location, great facilities and spotlessly clean but not so much atmosphere)
NOOSA:
Halse Lodge YHA (the best location in Noosa, plus a brilliant atmosphere in an old heritage wooden building)
AIRLIE BEACH:
Backpackers by the Bay (great facilities, a good atmosphere and brilliant sea views)
Magnums (the best of the hostels in the centre of town)
Some backpackers' magazines in Australia have ads for accommodation packages that seem like a good deal with cheap pre-paid accommodation vouchers. Avoid these as they are usually always in the worst hostels.