In late August, "Australia" and escorted a New Zealand occupation force to German Samoa. Patey believed that the German fleet was likely to be in the eastern Pacific, and Samoa would be a logical move. Providing protection for the New Zealand troopships was a beneficial coincidence, although the timing could have been better, as an Australian expedition to occupy German New Guinea departed from Sydney a few days after the New Zealand force left home waters—"Australia" was expected to support both, but Patey only learned of the expeditions after they had commenced their journeys. The battlecruiser left Port Moresby on 17 August and was met by "Melbourne" en route on 20 August. The next day, they reached Nouméa and the New Zealand occupation force, consisting of the troopships "Moeraki" and "Monowai", the French cruiser , and three s. The grounding of "Monowai" delayed the expedition's departure until 23 August; the ships reached Suva, Fiji on 26 August, and arrived off Apia early in the morning of 30 August. The city surrendered without a fight, freeing "Australia" and "Melbourne" to depart at noon on 31 August to meet the Australian force bound for Rabaul.