After almost 13 years in Bali, convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has returned to Queensland with a media pack following – or attempting to follow – her every move.

Reporters and camera crews remained at the home of Ms Corby's mother on Sunday night, hours after family and friends left the Loganlea house.

Ms Corby travelled with her sister Mercedes and a bodyguard on a Malindo Air flight that touched down in Brisbane at 5.09am.

The 39-year-old managed to avoid the media as she changed her flight at the last minute from Virgin Australia.

She was whisked away on arrival at Brisbane Airport under the cover of early-morning darkness. 

A convoy of eight black vans - one believed to contain Ms Corby - then led the waiting media on a wild cat-and-mouse chase. 

Some led media to Brisbane's Sofitel Hotel. Another was reported to stop near a KFC on the way to the Gold Coast.

Mercedes was photographed at her mother's house hours later, but by early Sunday evening, Schapelle was yet to be seen. 

Passengers on board her flight were reportedly warned against taking photographs and said Ms Corby was hiding her face and appeared nervous.

Others said she was spotted laughing with her security guard and ate a vegan meal during the flight.

Jane Szach and Kerry Webb, who were visiting Ms Szach's daughter in Bali, said the departure gate at Denpasar International Airport was changed twice without notification.

On the flight itself, Ms Szach and Ms Webb said, they briefly saw Ms Corby with her sister and a bodyguard referred to as John.

"We were quite shocked that she was on our flight," they said. "But she looked amazing. She seemed fine and very relaxed."

Gabrielle Amies and Lynne Bellinger, holidaying in Bail, said it was "business as usual" on the flight and that without seeing Ms Corby they wouldn't have known anything was different prior to take-off.

However, this changed in the air, with toilets blocked off towards the end of the flight to ensure a hasty exit for Ms Corby. 

Ms Amies and Ms Bellinger said that on landing in Brisbane, all passengers were forced to remain in their seats, with an announcement saying, "The special guest has to get off first".

Ms Corby said in a statement that her focus had turned to "healing and moving forward"

"It is with gratefulness and relief that we mark Schapelle Corby's return to Australia," the statement, read by a member of the security team, said.

"We would like to say thank you to Schapelle's supporters for all the faith, love and support they have shown over the years.

"To all those in Australia and to all of those in Bali, who were there throughout the difficult journey, your support has not gone unnoticed.

"To each and every one of you, you are appreciated."

The family called for privacy as the convicted drug smuggler tries to settle back into life in Queensland.

"Priority of focus will now be on healing and moving forward," the statement said.

Corby was arrested at Bali's international airport on October 8, 2004, with 4.2 kilograms of marijuana stuffed in her boogie board bag.

After almost a decade in jail and three years on parole, she is finally a free woman.

A media circus swarmed Ms Corby as she departed from Bali. 

Wearing sunglasses and a white shawl around her head, Ms Corby carried a handbag showing a picture of missing NSW boy William Tyrrell as she got into a corrections vehicle under the glare of flashing cameras.

The William Tyrrell charity said on Sunday it was not associated with the convicted drug smuggler and was "not happy" Ms Corby had used the image.

As media outlets compete to secure the first post-parole interview, legal experts have warned that Ms Corby could breach proceeds-of-crime laws should she profit from the media frenzy.

Barrister Christian Juebner​, an expert in proceeds of crime, said Ms Corby could not profit from her "criminal notoriety". Nor could she benefit from remuneration given to family or friends. 

The Australian Federal Police are likely to scrutinise Ms Corby, given that she has already fallen foul of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

In 2009, Australia's Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions recovered $128,000 received by Ms Corby's family from the sale of her book My Story.

While the Corby family has asked for privacy, Schapelle created an Instagram account from Bali and a Snapchat account to share her homecoming with the world.

Her debut 'gram', a photo of her two dogs, Luna and May, was posted from her Kuta home only hours before she was picked up by a police convoy to begin her trip home to Australia. It has already gathered more than 7000 likes.

"Going to miss these two. My puppies #Luna&May," Ms Corby, who was convicted in 2005 of smuggling more than four kilograms of marijuana into Bali in a bodyboard bag, posted.

Her second post, which appeared after she was whisked away by police, shows her "Bali family", including Mercedes and brother Michael Corby.

"Big thank you to my Bali family, neighbours and my brother-in-law Wayan," she wrote.

She then posted a series of pictures, including one of her parole papers.

By Sunday evening, the account had 125,000 followers.

Ms Corby also thanked her supporters via Snapchat.

"Thank you for all the love and support everybody x", she wrote.

Some members of the public were quick to throw support behind her.

"Good job girls. Stay strong ignore the haters. Welcome back to the Gold Coast Shappelle," one supporter said on Instagram.

"Welcome home @schapelle.corby and don't let a--holes take away the joy you must be experiencing! Enjoy every second of it!!!!!" another user said.

With Melissa Cunningham and AAP