Darwin, Australia: Drinkers at an Outback watering hole found a crocodile at the door - and brought it inside for their session.

The saltwater croc in question was just 60 centimetres long and more a curiosity than a threat to drinkers at the Noonamah Tavern on Sunday, though the species can grow to more than 5 metres.

Barmaid Sarah Sparre said yesterday that three patrons spotted the saltwater crocodile outside the pub, grabbed it and brought it inside.

"He was pretty complacent, easygoing. But we weren't going to test him out," Sparre said.

The three men taped up its mouth, took some photos of them holding it, then put it in a box near the bar.

Sparre said the animal may have escaped from a farm for the animals that was several kilometres away. Wildlife officials took the croc to the farm.

Noonamah comprises little more than a gas station and a bar on the main north-south highway through Australia, about 40 kilometres from Darwin.