"Hansa" thereafter withdrew from Chinese waters to visit Nagasaki, Japan, in mid-October. From there, she departed for Hong Kong on 30 December, where she entered dry dock for periodic maintenance. While she was there, "KAdm" Hunold von Ahlefeld replaced Kirchhoff as the squadron deputy commander and "FK" Adolf Paschen relieved Pohl. She then returned to Tsingtao on 5 March 1901. Toward the end of the month, "Hansa" received orders to steam to Australia to represent Germany for the ceremonies commemorating the Federation of Australia. The ship got underway on 31 March and sailed via Singapore and Batavia, Dutch East Indies, and Fremantle, Australia, before arriving in Melbourne on 1 May. There, she met the unprotected cruiser . The two vessels then joined an international squadron for the ceremonies, which was observed by George, Duke of York. The fleet then steamed to Sydney on 18 May, where the ceremonies took place. "Hansa" then cruised briefly with the gunboat , then in use as a survey ship, before departing on 24 May to return to Tsingtao, by way of Matupi Harbor, New Britain, and Manila in the Philippines. She arrived in Tsingtao on 19 June. For the rest of the year, "Hansa" cruised around the station area, visiting numerous ports in East Asia.