Northern Territory Police say they spent the early hours of this morning looking for a man who got lost on his small rural property.

The resident of an eight-hectare block in Darwin's rural area says that after he had a few beers he thought he saw a dingo.

He says he followed the animal into bushland behind his residence because he was concerned about his pets.

But he got lost and tried to find his house for about an hour.

He then used his mobile phone to call police.

Officers, with the help of a neighbour, found the man safe and well about 300 metres from his house.