A CONFIRMED sighting of albino humpback whale Migaloo south of Byron Bay yesterday has raised hopes he will return to Far Northern waters for the first time since 2007.

Migaloo is expected to be in Queensland waters by the end of the week meaning if he was to swim as far north as Cairns, he could be here within two weeks.

• Pictures: Migaloo the white whale 

His last recorded visit to the region was in July 2007 but there was an unconfirmed sighting off Innisfail last year.

Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre researcher and co-director of the Oceania Project Wally Franklin said a sighting of Migaloo had been confirmed about 5km off Evans Head at 12.30pm yesterday.

Migaloo was alone and swimming north.

"I think there is a very good chance of him coming further north," Mr Franklin said.

"We know his range has included Cairns in the past so there is a very good possibility of more sightings."

Mr Franklin said if the whale did swim as far north as Cairns, sightings could be expected in about a fortnight "depending on his intent".

• Have you caught a snap of a whale near Cairns? Submit a picture to share. 

"He is absolutely unique because he is pure white," he said.

"He is a one in 10,000 whale."

Quicksilver’s Bridget Doherty will never forget her encounter with Migaloo four years ago.

"It was like glass on the water that day. It was absolutely magic, you could see him coming from so far away because he is such a brilliant white."

The Queensland Government has declared Migaloo a special interest whale, meaning boats and jet skis can get no closer than 500m to it and aircraft no closer than 2000ft.

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