A north Queensland man asked a woman for a lift to his car before sexually assaulting her on a beach north of Cairns, police allege.

The 26-year-old Cairns woman had been taking photos on the side of the Captain Cook Highway about 9am on Saturday before the man allegedly struck up a conversation.

After the alleged request, she then drove him to his car and agreed to walk with him on Wangetti Beach, about 43 kilometres north of Cairns, a police statement said.

Police allege the 20-year-old from Kowanyama, on the Cape York Peninsula's west coast, then sexually assaulted the woman on the beach and attempted to rape her before she managed to flee.

The man is expected to appear before the Cairns Magistrate Court on July 6 charged with one count of assault with intent to rape.