Christopher Charles Gardner was arrested in Murwillumbah on Friday morning, about 30 kilometres southwest of Tweed Heads.

He has been taken to the Byron Bay police station and Queensland Police are expected to apply for his extradition later on Friday.

Earlier, the public was urged not to approach the 29-year-old.

Gardner had managed to remove his GPS tracking device and was last seen in the Wacol area.

He had been staying in contingency housing at the Wacol Prison and was on a community supervised order since July 2012.

A Queensland Correctional Services spokesman said Gardner was previously sentenced to seven years in prison for rape, attempted rape, indecent assault with circumstances of aggravation and deprivation of liberty.

Gardner is described as 180 centimetres tall, medium build with fair complexion and blue eyes. He has a purple streak in his blond hair.

He has several tattoos, including a dot under his right eye, "CP" and "Marlina" on his on his left arm, "Cherise" on his right arm, "Jamal" and a heart on his left leg and a cross and Yin and Yang symbol on his right leg.

Gardner also has a scar below his left knee.