Darwin publican fends off crocodile with 'an almighty smack on the nose' using a frying pan

A Darwin publican has given a crocodile "an almighty smack on the nose" after the reptile upset the pecking order on his island.

Goat Island Lodge owner Kai Hansen used a frying pan to whack the saltwater crocodile named Fred who charged towards him.

The kitchen utensil was enough to ward off the scaly visitor and send it back into the water.

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Hansen, also known as "King Kai", lives on the island alongside his beloved pet crocodile Casey.

The reptile entertains visitors on the banks of the Adelaide river.

Tourists have the opportunity to visit the island and dine at a bistro and bar named after the pet.

"My kingdom has the only croc-infested moat all around it," he told 9News.

Hansen added that when Fred moved in, Casey started to climb up onto a walkway near the island's heliport.

"Now he's bigger than her and that is a problem," Hansen said.

Hansen said this forced him to bring out his kitchen utensil shield.

A special crocodile retrieval team was sent to the island to collect the reptile.

"As soon as that happens, Casey will stop coming up there and (will) come up in her favourite spot," he said on Tuesday afternoon.

"And all of the problems (will be) solved."

Watch the fearless encounter in the video above.