Queensland Police have confirmed that bones found at a crime scene in bushland on the Sunshine Coast belong to missing teenager Daniel Morcombe.

But the search for more evidence is expected to continue for weeks and police have vowed to continue until every area is exhausted.

"We're hopeful that more remains and other forensic evidence will be found," Deputy Police Commissioner Ross Barnett said on Sunday.

"As long as it takes, we're not going to walk away from that search until we have exhausted absolutely every area.

"It will be at least several weeks."

A week ago, three bones and a pair of shoes were found in Beerburrum State Forest near Beerwah, the site police have been searching since the arrest of a suspect in Daniel's murder case.

A forensic lab conducting DNA testing in Adelaide confirmed the bones were Daniel's on Saturday night.

His parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe have been notified of the development and released a statement saying it is the "expected shock we have all been waiting for".

"Today's news is extremely sad for us all and although we knew in our hearts the search area was Daniel's final resting place, the news of the scientific confirmation is still enormously difficult to comprehend," they said in the statement, read by Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.

The family plans to front the media tomorrow morning.

Commissioner Atkinson says the identification is a vital part of the investigation.

"There has always been two concurrent aspects to this investigation, and they have been firstly to determine if there was sufficient evidence to support charges against any person - that has occurred," he said.

"The other concurrent aspect of this has always been to find Daniel, and that has now occurred.

"Obviously Bruce and Denise have been advised and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this time."

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says her thoughts are with the Morcombe family.

"While this no doubt provides evidence that can be used in the court, it is just terribly sad sad news," she said.

"I think every parent would keep alive a little flame of hope and to have that flame dashed today I think is very distressing news for the Morcombe family and for all of us who kept that flame alive."

Investigation ongoing

SES workers search for Daniel's remains at the site at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Barnett says a white four-wheel drive Mitsubishi Pajero has been seized on Russell Island in Moreton Bay, south of Brisbane in relation to the investigation.

Police are also inspecting buildings on the search site but would not reveal any further details.

The deputy commissioner says police are limited in how much they can say on the forensic testing because the results are linked to the murder case against Brett Peter Cowan.

Police have charged Cowan with a number of offences, including with Daniel's abduction and murder.

The father of three has signalled he will fight the charges.

Daniel was 13 when he disappeared on his way to buy Christmas presents at Woombye in 2003, sparking the largest missing persons case in Queensland's history.

Since Daniel's disappearance, the Morcombes have worked tirelessly to keep the case in the national consciousness.