Snap sale: NT island with pub, croc and chopper parking hits market

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Goat Island in the Northern Territory is for sale for $1.5m. Picture: Supplied


Kai Hansen – the Territorian who went viral for smacking a 3.5m saltie on the nose with a frying pan – has put his beloved Goat Island on the market, complete with resident croc and the infamous frying pan.

A well-known tourism stop off about an hour-and-a-half from Darwin, the 10ha island sits in the Adelaide River, home to about four crocs per square kilometre.

There are no goats on the island but there is Casey, the resident 3.5m croc from the viral frying pan video.

“She’s just another young female who wants me for my body,” Mr Hansen said.

“She comes with the island, as long as whoever buys it promises to look after her.”

For sale for $1.5m, Goat Island includes the Goat Island Lodge, Casey’s Bar, an owner’s residence, a massive deck overlooking the river, guest rooms, a pontoon and a helicopter landing zone.

And Mr Hansen said he’d even chuck in the frying pan he used to keep Casey in line.

“It’s siting in a pot plant here with two distinctive dents from Casey’s nose,” he said.

A still from the viral video of Kai Hansen and Casey the croc.


The NT News front page featuring King Kai and Casey. Picture: NT News


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Mr Hansen bought the island almost 24 years ago after Darwin’s rural area got “too civilised”.

“They put in traffic lights at Coolalinga,” he said.

“I’m a country boy – I don’t need traffic lights to go shopping.”

Mr Hansen said he found the island through an ad in the NT News and bought it for the cost of a “nice house in Darwin”.

“That was for the island, one building with four rooms, a generator on a tank stand and that was about it,” he said.

“I build a big house, put in new generators, a bar, kitchen, walkways, pontoon and cleared land for the “international” airport and a walking track to end of the island.

“We don’t pay rates but there’s no bloody services either.

“But there is that thing older people like me like, though – freedom.”

Kai Hansen has transformed the island since buying it almost 24 years ago. Picture: Supplied


Goat Island is a popular tourist stop. Picture: Supplied


Mr Hansen said he had loved being able to host visitors on the island for more than two decades.

“At most places, the publican will serve you and sit and wait until you need another drink,” he said.

“When people come here and order a drink, I’ll join them.

“We get people coming from all over the place and my job is to make sure they’re all having a good time, having a laugh.

“During the busy season you can sometimes have five, six, seven boats coming in a day.

“I’ve had in one day 26 helicopters and there’s only room for about four or five at a time.”

Known locally as King Kai, Mr Hansen was originally from Denmark and has called the Territory home for 53 years.

“I’ve been a proper local for three years now,” he said.

“Denmark got an Australian queen and you got a Danish King.”

Casey the croc still calls the island home. Picture: Supplied


Goat Island in accessible by boat or chopper. Picture: Supplied


But the 74-year-old said he was starting to get too old to keep looking after the island, so it was time to sell up and find a place where he could get back into golf.

“I’m in no rush to sell but I am on my own our here,” he said.

“If you really want to take this place to the next level, you need two people in the busy period.

“You could easily double your turnover if you used social media and a bit of advertising.

“I’m living comfortably and I don’t do any advertising or promotions.”

Mr Hansen said Goat Island was perfect for anyone looking to semi-retire or keen fishos looking for the ultimate home base.

“You just need to look after people and keep them happy,” he said.

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