Snuggle Up with Kangaroo Joeys During Pouch Pals at Clearwater Marine Aquarium!
Just in time for Winter Break, you can hop on over to Clearwater Marine Aquarium to interact and snuggle up with a baby kangaroo joey! From Dec. 20, 2025, through Jan, 4, 2026, the Pouch Pals Baby Roo Encounter will give guests the unique chance to hold, interact with, and cuddle with a baby kangaroo while learning all about conservation efforts taking place to protect these marsupials.
The folks at Clearwater Marine Aquarium invited us out for a sneak peek of the event during a pop-up in March, and needless to say, we JUMPED at the chance to go see them! The experience is very much the same, but with two NEW joeys to meet, Steve, a 7-month-old joey, and Sui, a 1-year-old.
“We’re happy to welcome Steve and Sui to Clearwater Marine Aquarium,” said Joe Handy, CEO of CMA. “Having these joeys here allows our guests to connect with Australian wildlife in a memorable and personal way. Just as importantly, encounters like this help spark meaningful conversations about conservation—why species like kangaroos need healthy habitats, and how each of us can play a role in protecting wildlife around the world.”
What to Expect During the Pouch Pals Encounter
(Based on our experience last spring. The current experience is the same, so we're sharing to help give you an idea of what to expect.)
Once we arrived, we made our way up to level 4 and were shown a short video about the conservation efforts that Amazing Animals Inc. is taking to help raise awareness and conservation efforts being made to protect kangaroos. Next, we had the chance to sit and snuggle with one of the two baby roos.
During our visit, we had the chance to meet Bindi! Bindi was already cuddled up in her special, custom-made pouch that gives the joeys a similar feeling of being in their mother's pouch. There is a special bench where I was able to sit and snuggle the joey on my lap.
We could tell the joey felt safe and secure in her pouch but was very curious about her surroundings. One of the benefits on this new encounter is to get them used to being around humans and helping them socialize before they move into their new home at Amazing Animals Inc. in St. Cloud, FL.
While holding her, we were able to pet her and even got to see her own little pouch. Brian was on hand to answer our questions about kangaroos, so the experience was not only adorable, but educational too. The whole encounter lasts about 20 minutes and includes one complimentary professional photo (we also learned Bindi loves looking at the camera).
After we were done with all the snuggles and cuddles, Brian took Bindi to an enclosed area so she could stretch her legs and hop around. And, like a typical baby roo, when she was done showing off her jumping skills, she climbed right back into her pouch for a nap.
How You Can Experience Pouch Pals
Guests can make their way up to level 4 from Dec. 20, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, to meet these adorable Australian natives at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm each day. The encounter requires the purchase of a separate ticket from general admission and costs $49.95 per person ages 5 and up (children under 5 may visit with a parent, but may not interact with the joeys). Though the interactive encounter is a separate ticketed experience, you can still go view Bindi and Irwin for no additional cost.
While you're there, you can also check out all the other incredible rescue animals that call CMA home, such as dolphins, sea otters, sea turtles, the new zebra shark, and more!
To purchase tickets to CMA and check out the new Pouch Pals encounter, visit cmaquarium.org.