Filippovsky Bay and Matveev Rock

Filippovsky Bay lies on the western shore of Russky Island, within the Vladivostok city district of Primorsky Krai, between Cape Vasilyeva and Rynda Bay. Facing it, about 540 meters from the shore, a small sea stack called Matveev Rock rises from the Amur Bay — roughly 36 meters long and 12 meters wide, covering a little over a third of a hectare.

History

The bay was named after Lieutenant Filippovsky of the Fleet Navigators Corps, who carried out winter depth soundings here in 1881. Before the bridge across the Eastern Bosphorus Strait was built, the bay was well known to tourists: ferries carrying passengers to Russky Island used to arrive right here. Once the bridge opened, the flow of visitors to the bay almost stopped, and the place became noticeably quieter than the island's other popular bays.

Nature

Matveev Rock rises 9 to 10 meters above the water. A gravel spit extends from its southern side, and further south, underwater, a rocky ridge stretches for 270 meters — a trace of the time when the rock was connected to Russky Island by a single strip of land. The seabed of Filippovsky Bay near the shore is mostly silty. A path is worn across the top of the rock, used by those who reach it by boat or at low tide.

In winter, roughly from mid-January to early March, the strait between the island and Matveev Rock freezes over, and during this period it becomes possible to drive straight across the ice to the rock by car — a rare opportunity in the south of Primorye.

Getting there

The easiest way to reach the bay is by off-road vehicle: a dirt road leads here from Russky Island, and there are no paved access roads or parking areas. Without a car, take bus No. 29 from the "Izumrud" stop to the "Bukhta Voevoda" stop, then walk about 1.5 kilometers one way along the shore.

Good to know

Filippovsky Bay has no infrastructure: no parking, no equipped camping spots, no drinking water points. According to visitors, it stays noticeably less crowded and cleaner than the neighboring Voevoda Bay, which is easier to reach. This is a place for those who come for quiet and the view of Matveev Rock, not for a developed beach holiday.