A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged with more than 160 child sex offences, including 29 counts of rape, on Tuesday night.

The 42-year-old former Gold Coast resident was arrested at Brisbane international airport on Tuesday evening on return from Thailand.

The offences were allegedly committed on the Gold Coast between 2003-2005. Credit:Glenn Hunt

He was charged with 168 offences including 86 charges relating to child exploitation material, 39 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, 29 counts of rape, five counts of torture, seven counts of deprivation of liberty and two counts of serious assault.

The offences were allegedly committed on the Gold Coast between 2003 and 2005 and relate to one child who knew the man.