Under the command of John Mitchinson, master, she departed Plymouth on 27 March 1791 as part of the Third Fleet, and arrived on 26 September 1791 in Port Jackson in the Colony of New South Wales.

Governor Phillip discovered that Active and some of the other vessels of the Third Fleet (Admiral Barrington, Albemarle, and Queen) had on board considerable cargoes of copper, lead, iron, cordage, and other commodities destined for a Portuguese settlement in India.

Sydney at the time was short of food and other necessities and Phillip pointed out in despatches to Lord Grenville and the Commissioners of the Navy that in future vessels under charter to the government as convict transports and storeships should have their entire cargo space allocated for provisions and other necessities for the colony rather than allowing them to engage in private trade.

[5] He also asked that it should be made clear to the contractors in their charter-party agreements that they were required to deliver part of their cargoes to Norfolk Island as well as Port Jackson.

In the meantime Phillip was obliged to charter one of the transports to sail to Calcutta for flour and other necessities, and to hire another to go to Norfolk Island.